You may have noticed many popular fast food restaurants have replaced their once-tactile toy filled play areas with video game arcades, that is, if they haven’t taken them out altogether. While the world is no doubt becoming more and more technology-dependent, it’s potentially dangerous for such young children to have excess exposure to screen time.

​Studies show that on average, infants 18 months and younger should spend no time on screens at all (other than video calls with relatives). While there is a time and a place for technology for infants, too much exposure to screens at such young ages can be detrimental to their developing skills, such as:

• social skills
• motor skills
• language acquisition skills
• creativity development
• creative play
• imaginations

 
It is recommended that children aged 1-2 only watch the occasional educational shows.  It is also recommended that children this age watch any shows while being accompanied by a parent so they can discuss what they saw afterwards. Too much time in front of screens in toddlers can result in:

• decreased math and academic achievement
• decreased activity levels
• increased levels of conflict with their peers
• increased risk of psychological difficulties such as hyperactivity, social, emotional and behavioral concerns
• increased levels of peer conflict

 
It’s recommended that children aged 2-5 spend no more than 60 minutes watching quality educational videos per day. Too much screen time for children in this age range can cause:

• increased risk for attentional deficit issues (ADD/ ADHD)
• hyperactivity
• issues with social interactions
• lack of ability to communicate
• a need for higher levels of stimulation
• issues regarding long term potential in an academic sense

 
Children and adolescents aged 5-18 should be spending no more than 2 hours of recreational time in front of screens per day. Studies have shown that more time than this can lead to problems such as:

• decreases in physical activity (which can lead to obesity)
• lack of sleep
• increased risk of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, attachment disorder and bipolar disorder
• increase of aggressive behavior
• increase in risks from radiation emissions from cell phones

 
Technology, must like most things in life are good in small doses; however, when used in excess have some potentially dangerous results. Parents should make sure they are monitoring not just the time that children spend on electronic devices, but also the content that is being viewed by their children.  Content should be age appropriate and (preferably) educational content to help them further develop their growing minds.   

We’ve all experienced it - our child comes home after a day at school and has an absolute meltdown for seemingly no reason. After speaking with the school, they have been doing well - no issues with their peers or adults, yet when they come home they seem devastated. It could be that your child is struggling with mental fatigue. 
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We all have times in our lives when it all seems like “too much”. Between dealing with the stress of getting everyone out the door in the morning, meeting deadlines at work, picking up groceries, making dinner, getting the kids to their sports, all the while projecting a cool, calm and collected attitude; we get stressed and overwhelmed. A good cry is sometimes all we can do to make ourselves feel better.  This is exactly what can happen to kids after going back to school- especially in the first few months.
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How can we help?
1-Offer them your support/ comfort
Similar to when children are upset for any other reason, let them know that you’re there for them. Tell them that you’re ready to listen when they’re ready to talk.  Depending on the child, this may or may not help them feel more at ease.
 
2-Feed them
We’ve all been hangry before- it’s not fun.  Be prepared to welcome them home with a nutritious snack.  If they are old enough to be home alone before you get home from work, have one prepared for them to grab easily when they get in the door. Try to stick to fruits and vegetables or other unprocessed foods.
 
3-Give them space
For some children, hovering over them or trying to make them talk about things will only make it worse.  Give the child some distance to relax and unwind after school.  For some children, this means 30 minutes of quiet time in their room or outside, others it’s just sitting quietly in the kitchen as you prepare dinner. If the child frequently has a tough time with the school-to-home transition, consider creating a spot in the house for them that is specifically for them to go during calm down time.
 
4-Don’t blame anyone
Like other mental health issues, this is no one’s fault.  Everyone processes stress differently- and no one should be punished for it. Getting angry at your child (or yourself) isn’t going to solve anything, in fact, it will more than likely stress the child out further.
 
If behavior like this continues for more than a couple of weeks, I would suggest bringing the child to see a therapist to rule out other potential mental health issues. The Kids Help Phone is also a great resource for youth who are struggling; you can find out more information here https://kidshelpphone.ca/