This article explores the growing issue of childhood stress and anxiety, particularly over the past two decades. It attributes this rise primarily to the harmful effects of excessive screen time, access to social media and the internet, and the lack of natural, real-world experiences, engagement and play with real family and friends.
Children today often experience symptoms like physical complaints, sleep issues, emotional outbursts, and school refusal due to overstimulation caused by screens’ vivid colours, imagery, and stories. Subsequently, essential brain networks that need physical movement and sensory integration to develop throughout their brains and bodies are underdeveloped.
Key points include:
- Widespread anxiety: Children today frequently suffer from stress, seen in physical symptoms, emotional outbursts, sleep issues, and behavioural challenges.
- Digital exposure: Overexposure to screens—especially for children under six—is linked to anxiety and natural developmental delays. Screen time should be limited or, ideally, eliminated, particularly during mealtimes, before school, and at least two hours before bedtime.
- Natural development (ideally outdoors): Real-life, sensory-rich experiences, physical movement, and human interaction are vital for healthy brain development and emotional regulation.
- Developmental risks: Excessive screen use may mimic symptoms of ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders due to the lack of building foundational brain networks through physical movement and sensory experiences, and consequently disrupted neural integration.
- Parental role: Parents are urged to set firm screen boundaries, model calm behaviour, and offer co-regulation and consistent routines to help children feel secure.
- Practical strategies: These include calming tools, creating a soothing environment, shifting perspectives on anxiety, and avoiding over-reassurance.
- Viewing children’s sensitivity and emotional depth as strengths rather than weaknesses. Expose them to various experiences in natural and social real-life environments.
- Addressing larger world anxieties with hope and resilience-building conversations.
- Advocacy: The Technolife Wise Foundation’s author, director, and team call for societal and parental action, citing countries like Australia, France, and Denmark that have banned smartphone and social media use in schools to protect children’s healthy, balanced, and joyful development and learning.
The article invites parents to seek support from the TechnoLife Wise Foundation and participate in the Happy Neuro Heroes programme for a neuro-integrative approach to holistic digital-wise living and parenting. This course is a life-changing adventure that inspires you and your child to reset your mind, body, and spirit.