WHO warns against electronic pacifiers

WHO warns against electronic pacifiersScreens (cell phones, tablets, computers, video games, and TV) represent a communication tool, but also an element that, in the case of babies, children, and adolescents, triggers serious health problems due to excessive use.

And it is that the screens represent a real challenge for parents and guardians; above all, because they are becoming the “electronic pacifier”, replacing physical contact, the use of the word and parenting games, missing out on learning and experiences necessary for language acquisition and socio-emotional development, experts such as Santiago Bilinkis, a renowned Argentine technologist, have warned.

In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended no screen time for babies under 2 years of age and no more than one hour of screen time per day for 2-4 year-olds; since health problems such as obesity, delays in language, and cognitive development, irritability, attention deficit, and other behavioral disorders are being generated

The Panamanian pediatrician, Max Ramírez, told TVN-2.com that it is necessary as parents to review the upbringing of children regarding technological equipment because that affects their learning. “Children between the ages of 0 and 18 are in a period of parenting and healthy activities, therefore, children under 2 years of age should not be exposed to screens because they limit their learning,” while “interfering with the control of feelings and emotions, they are practically paralyzed and are not exposed to other children and their caregivers,” he said.

But the damage is not only physical and learning, it is also emotional, recalled psychologist, Lesbia González, because there is a blur when seeing other people laugh, play, get angry, and they do not feel capable of identifying these emotions. ” There are more serious emotional implications. If we’re already disengaging kids, it’s because there are one or two generations of disengaged parents who have been glued to their devices and are hardly going to teach a child what another connection is, so we have to be very careful what we do. 

Tips for intelligent use of screens 
Exposure to screens must be monitored by parents or caregivers, taking care of the time and content based on age.

1. Emphasis should be placed on the selection of programs so that they have high educational quality.
2. Strengthen reading, recreational times outdoors, educational games, and sports activities.
3. Screens should not accompany families during meals or during school or study activities.
4. Avoid using it two hours before bedtime.
5.