Post Covid, the screen time in children under 5 years has seen a rapid surge and this trend has set in over the last decade. A major shift in lifestyle can be attributed to easy accessibility to content on smart phones and television. Twenty years ago, with limited access to coloured screen television and no access to smartphones, virtual autism was unheard of. Years later, we see an evolving phenomenon and it is just the tip of an iceberg.
The Indian Academy of Paediatrics recommends the total screen time for children aged 2-5 years to be one hour and zero for children below 18 months of age. This has been far surpassed to the point where screens can and have been added to almost every aspect of a child’s routine. From access to a screen right after waking up to using it while continuing chores like bathing and eating, there is no set boundary where screen time stops. Whether it is to pacify a crying child or distract them while performing their work, parents and caretakers often resort to screens as a convenient solution. The aftereffect of this constant exposure slowly unravels along the years.
As a consequence of being glued to a screen, children have limited environmental exposure and social interaction. While all children follow the same pattern of acquiring essential milestones in motor skills, language and social domains of development, the depth of milestones achieved depends on the individual and their upbringing. Isolated speech delays is a rising concern due to lack of environmental and social stimuli. A child with virtual autism is usually indifferent and aloof. They can be hyperactive with a short attention span. They often lack interest in physical play and their peers. In extreme cases, kids end up throwing temper tantrums and have meltdowns when their access to phones and television is denied.
While the prevention of virtual autism seems to be an obvious cut down in screen time, the recovery of already affected children is proving to be a tedious challenge. It consists of multiple steps and enormous patience from the parents. Regulating and drastically limiting screen time, being mindful of the content which the children get to view and simultaneously providing other options for children to substitute their leisure time are the baby steps in reverting back. It is helpful to engage children in outdoor sports.
The human brain grows significantly in the first two years of life. The sensorimotor stimulation it receives during this crucial period shapes the child for a lifetime. Over the past decade, screens have become an indispensable part of our lives. We might not realise that in this new normalcy we too have forgotten how important it is to take a break from our devices. Kids tend to mimic the people around them. The change starts with adults understanding the consequences of these habits and implementing the solutions on themselves first. Get out of screens and get into the moments. Converse with kids, give them time and attention. What might seem to take up a few minutes of the day could help shape our future.
Ms. Mishthi Malani
MBBS Student
AIIMS RAIPUR
