Technology advances creating debates about its use. In this case we are concerned that the adaptation to digital technologies in the classrooms is not giving positive results in the education of the little ones. The AEPED paediatricians have presented a report in the Family Digital Plan indicating that the impact of digital technologies must be reevaluated. Let's see what they say.
The AEPED recommends analyzing the impact of digital technologies in the classroom
According to the recommendations of the Digital Family Plan of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEPED), It is suggested to reevaluate screen time in teaching, especially in the school environment., based on scientific studies on its impact on the health and development of children and adolescents.
It is also proposed to increase training about the impact of screens on the health and safety of young people, both for teachers, parents and students. This is because, according to proven studies, children who spend the most time in front of a screen They tend to socialize less and have less physical activity.
Something to consider is that the AEPED does not tell us that children have to spend fewer hours in front of their cell phones. What he proposes is reevaluate the impact of digital technologies within school hours since the significance of mobile phones in the education of the little ones is still unknown.
This opens a debate, of great relevance today, around the use of mobile devices and digital screens in the education and development of children. Although this debate has been in the classrooms for some time, in order to properly address the issue we have to wait for studies to be carried out that show real results.
Some studies that have already been carried out in this matter indicate the need to limit the use of mobile phones within education. But What is proposed from the AEPED Digital Family Plan?
What the Digital Family Plan proposes
In Spain we have been educating through new technologies for years and the increases in the educational quality of our country have not improved. This makes one think that Spain's poor academic performance may not come from a lack of adaptation to new technologies but rather it comes from something more deeply rooted in our values as a society.
To tackle these tendencies of mobile phone abuse and distraction in class, the AEPED Family Digital Plan proposes the following measures:
Set time limits on apps
Setting time limits helps prevent children from spend too many hours in front of the screen and thus they can reduce the negative effects that affect their physical and mental health. It is then proposed that apps are required to indicate how long you need to use them to do the task, as well as setting a clock that limits you so that you don't spend too much time on the screen.
School Provided Devices
The use of digital devices in class should depend on the institution itself and not of the students. This is because when the devices are school property, the content to which students have access can be better controlled. This makes education more controlled by protect them from inappropriate content.
On the other hand, it is suggested assign specific accounts for school use for each student. In this way, it can also be guaranteed that each student has equitable access to digital resources.
End video game addiction
The Games and instant rewards can distract students from their educational tasks and encourage addictive behaviors towards technology. Eliminating these distractions helps maintain focus on learning and promotes healthier use of technology in the educational environment.
Lastly, educational apps should not have addictive games that motivate the child to want to use the screen more than necessary. It is important that applications They are used to learn and not to waste time.
The proposed idea is to make these changes within the classrooms in Spain and evaluate the data we obtain. In this way it will be like a test to discover why the efforts in education are not bearing fruit.
How much time can a child spend in front of the cell phone?
The disadvantage of teaching a child how to approach new technologies is that we as parents have not had any education related to this topic and in many cases We are as newbies as the next generation.
Despite this and thanks to studies such as the Digital Family Plan, there are systematic failures that we can fully address to improve educational quality in our country. Specifically in Spain They recommend the following time slots in the digital education of an infant.
- Children under 2 years old: If discourages the use of screens on any occasion.
- Among 2 and 5 years: Screen time should be limited to children so that they do not be in front of a screen for more than 1 hour.
- From 5 years: Limit screen time to no more than 2 hours a day. In addition, this type of fun must be accompanied by physical activity and a good rest.
These screen time recommendations for kids are based on data obtained by both national and international organizations. These data would come from the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEPED), the World Health Organization (WHO) and Unicef, among other organizations.
Educating is everyone's job
Education is a comprehensive process that begins at home, goes through school and ends on the street. In this process there are many interferences and possible distractions for a young person. An important aspect that this study highlights is that there are many distractions for the little ones and that promoting healthy habits in the digital world is a job that we all have to do.
Another important aspect about screen time recommendations is general and They must be adapted to the individual needs of each child. The important thing is not that the child plays more or less, but that the game influences her behavior too much and can affect her development.
For this reason, it is essential that parents and educators are informed about the risks and benefits of using technology in childhood. In addition to spending time with your children to understand and support them. Must be promote responsible and balanced use of technology in the family and school environment.