Children and computers

Nowadays, children and computers are absolutely inseparable. Many school-age children or even those who are still in kindergarten can spend long hours in front of the computer. Many parents turn a blind eye to this, but it is worth acknowledging that the computer has an impact on the health of children and their lives in general. Let's figure out how. Does it damage the eyesight? How does it affect success in school? Do children need to wear computer glasses at school? All these questions are encountered quite often today, and this article will help you thoroughly understand them.

Computers help prepare for school

The good news: recent research shows that those children who are getting ready for school using a computer are really better prepared for the lessons.

In one study, which involved 122 preschool-age children enrolled in rural areas under the program Head Start (the US program for low-income families where the state provides absolutely everything for the full development of the child), children in the experimental the group was given the opportunity to work on the computer for 15-20 minutes a day with developing educational programs, while the children in the control group (without computers) were trained according to the standard educational program MME Head Start.

The pupils underwent four standard tests at the beginning of the study and six months later. This was necessary in order to assess their readiness for school, visual-motor skills, rough motor skills and cognitive development.

As a result, those children who worked at the computer showed the best results in terms of readiness for school, and their cognitive development was at a better level than those who did not work at the computer at school. It should also be noted that children who used computers not only in school, but also at home, showed results even higher.

Computer Exposure Risks

Everything is good in moderation. As well as adults, those children who spend too much time sitting in front of the computer, have a high risk of a number of diseases, the reason of which is a long stay in one pose. In addition, the sight of children spending too much time at the computer is also deteriorating.

We got to another potential problem. The problem of too much time spent behind a screen of computers, e-books and smartphones. All digital devices with digital displays emit a significant amount of blue light. It may increase the risk of developing yellow patches on the eye protein in the future.

And although the sun radiates much more ultraviolet than computers and other digital devices, the additional impact of blue light is harmful to the body. Children receive it from all these devices, and depending on how close to the eyes are the displays of electronic devices, the negative effect on the eyes increases or decreases. Scientists and doctors are concerned about this impact on the eyes of children and are trying to find effective ways to solve this problem.

Many doctors who specialize in children's eyes, believe that if children use the computer for too long - they endanger their health in the future.

For this reason, it is recommended that you talk with children and regularly remind them how long they should spend at the computer.

How to reduce the negative impact of the computer on the eyesight of children?

Just talk with the child is not enough, you also need to make sure that he feels comfortable in a "neutral" posture when working with a computer.

The head should not be tilted back or forward, and the computer screen should be located about 15 degrees below eye level. Back straight, shoulders back, but relaxed. Do not allow the child to lean in front of the keyboard. The forearms should lie flat on the table and form at least 90 degrees with the shoulders. Hands are almost on the same level with the forearm, but with a slight bend of the wrist. The legs are on the floor or the footrest, and in relation to the knees they should also be in a position of approximately 90 degrees.

Many experts also recommend to leave the computer every 20-30 minutes. During this pause, you should stand up and do a little exercise. This helps relieve muscle tension.

Harm Reduction Blue Light

Computers and other electronic devices have appeared not so long ago and, most likely, will remain with us for a long time. Your child is very unlikely to give up his electronic device in the future. Moreover, the number of hours spent in front of the screen will greatly increase.

If harm to health can not be avoided, it is necessary to try at least to reduce it. There is one good option for those parents, whose child already wears glasses for sight. The best way to reduce the harm of blue light is to purchase eye lenses that are made specifically to block its radiation.

A number of companies specializing in spectacles for vision, offer such lenses for glasses. They have a minimal shade and they can be worn all day, while doing any kind of activities. A huge number of salons selling glasses for sight, can offer lenses that reduce the impact of blue light.

Reducing the risk of nearsightedness associated with using a computer

Although heredity can play a significant role in the development of myopia in childhood, some studies show that eye strain, in particular because of the computer, can also have a significant impact on vision problems.

The eye must make an effort to focus, to see clearly at close range. Some researchers believe that fatigue caused by excessively long focusing can lead to such changes in the eyes that cause nearsightedness. Experts agree that focusing on images on the computer screen causes more eye fatigue than reading a printed book or magazine.

To reduce fatigue from constant eye strain, doctors recommend taking frequent breaks from work on the computer. Some people call this "rule 20-20-10": every 20 minutes your child should stop working with the computer and look at some object located at a distance from it (for example, look at the window), at least for 10 seconds.

Such a simple exercise relaxes the muscles responsible for focusing the eyes, and this helps reduce their tension and fatigue, which in the end can help prevent progressive myopia.

How to keep track of how much time the child spent at the computer

The National Association for Early Childhood Education (NAEYC) is an organization that sets quality standards for programs designed for children under the age of 8 years. This organization bases its standards on current research in the field of child development and on the opinions of professionals in the education of preschool children.

NAEYC made a set of rules concerning the use of computers by young children. In addition to the fact that your child will receive all the benefits that educational computer programs can provide, these tips can also reduce the risk of diseases associated with eye strain and posture of the child.

Here are some of these rules:

Computers should complement, not replace, educational activities such as art, books, music, outdoor games and communication with other children.

Parents should help children understand how to properly use the computer without harm to health. Always be ready to help your child, answer any questions and interact with him during the time he works at the computer.

Take your time and watch how your child uses the computer. This can help you learn about how he thinks and solves problems.

If there is an opportunity to have a child work at a computer with a brother, sister or friend, encourage it. Using computers with other children creates important social skills such as order and cooperation, and helps teach the child to speak and listen.

Try to learn more about the content that your child interacts with. This is a very important point, in fact, along with quality products, it can be caught by those that are difficult to use, or those that cover topics that your child does not yet need to know.

Preparing for school using a computer

In order to ensure that your children are ready to work with a computer in school, visit the oculist every time before the start of the new school year.

If you notice that your child has had some kind of vision problems, for example, the child begins to squint, rub his eyes, unnaturally turn his head, or if he himself complains of a visual impairment - immediately notify the expert about it. By the way, if a child avoids working with a computer - this can also indicate problems with eyesight.

Computers are an important (and almost inevitable) part of your child's life and education. An annual comprehensive vision test will help to avoid health problems, as well as make your child's work at the computer as comfortable as possible.

The article is based on materials https://hi-news.ru/computers/deti-i-kompyutery.html.