Technology vs. Sleep

Technology has enhanced communication and entertainment, but is it also a cause for a decline in sleep? New studies in Sleep Medicine Journal suggest that having technology in the bedroom serves as a distraction when people are trying to fall asleep, especially young children and preteens.

                The average preteen should get 10-11 consecutive hours of sleep each night to promote their growing bodies. Kids with access to computers, televisions, cell phones, and video games in their rooms, prior to going to sleep tend to get about nine hours of sleep, one to two hours less than those without the devices. Sleep Medicine reported that kids who frequently viewed TV before bed were four times more likely to report waking up several times during the night, than non-viewers, and frequent social networkers were three times more likely to wake up a lot. Kids who regularly played video games or listened to music at bedtime had significantly more difficulty falling asleep.

Children need boundaries for technology use. Medical experts suggest to remove these devices from the bedroom, and to withdraw from all interaction with technology at least an hour before going to sleep. When devices, such as cell phones, beep in the middle of the night, people are more inclined to get up and reply. While technology is helpful, the addiction to instantaneous information and the impulse to reply immediately is stronger than ever before.

Sleep needs to be held up to the same standards as eating healthy, too much indulgence in food is bad for the body, just as too much technology before bed is bad for sleep. Begin by limiting the amount of time kids spend with technology, especially during the later hours of the day. Try leaving all cell phones in the kitchen, turning the computer off after dinner or after homework, and keeping televisions in the common areas. Letting technology rest will allow for a better night’s sleep and more productive start to the next day. 

Combat the Cold

The United States has had its fair share of cold weather since 2014 touched down. While the country is currently experiencing temporary relief, the winter has just begun and it’s time to brace for the next round of artic air that is bound to happen. When the temperatures fall into the single digits and below, everyone is urged to take precautions.

     The best advice during extreme cold, especially for small children and the elderly, is to stay indoors. Exposure to the elements has many risks, but if you must go out, dress in layers. Before leaving the house, be sure to cover your head, hands, and ears. If going outdoors for more than five to ten minutes, be sure your mouth is covered. Failure to cover your mouth leaves lungs vulnerable to cold air, which could be dangerous and painful. Eating a hearty meal can help stay warm.  Keep in mind drinking caffeinated beverages can cause the body to loose heat more rapidly.

     Failure to prep for the cold could lead to the following:

HYPOTHERMIA – Occurs when the body temperature drops low enough that it begins to affect the brain, making it difficult to think or move. People often don’t realize it’s happening because the symptoms of shivering and exhaustion can be mistaken for something else. The symptoms are most noticeable in children and the elderly.

FROSTBITE – Occurs when the skin is exposed to the frigid temperatures.  Symptoms of frostbite include numbness and skin that’s red, white, painful, firm or waxy.

HEART PROBLEMS - Cold weather puts an extra strain on the heart, causing the body to work harder to stay warm.  As a result, any exertion can be dangerous for people with heart disease. When the body starts to shiver, that is an indication that the heart has already begun working harder to keep the body warm.

 

     The winter can be a time of building snowmen, drinking hot cocoa, and ice skating at the rink, but when the temperature takes a drastic dive, take all necessary safety precautions. Do not attempt to brave the cold for long periods of time, especially with children. Remember, spring is just around the corner, but until then, bundle up and stay warm!

Can Portable Devices Cause Hearing Loss?

Did your charge put an iPod or MP3 Player on their wish list this year? While the musical devices serve as great entertainment pieces, could they be damaging to ear health, especially that of a child? According to Health Daily News, one in six teens has some degree of preventable hearing loss, but few parents warn their kids to turn down their iPods or avoid other sources of excessive noise.

Portable devices have been around for decades but, with the advancement of technology, and prolific use, the risk of hearing loss has risen. Some of the main concerns include earbud use and extended head phone use. CD and Cassette Players, some of the first portable music devices, came equipped with headphones, allowing users to avoid outside distractions and listen to music without distracting others around them, but new devices come with ear buds, a more isolated form of listening. Earbuds go directly into the ear, close enough to damage the canal if music is played too loud. Another concern is the advancement in portable storage. Old devices allowed for users to listen for maybe an hour at a time. MP3 Players and iPods can hold thousands of songs and are light to carry, extending the time people listen to their devices.

            The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association mandates that sounds over 85 decibels can cause hearing loss and damage. Newer MP3 Players and iPods can reach up to 106 decibels. The younger the listener, the more damage there is to be done. Hearing loss does not happen instantaneously, it happens over time. A long term repercussion could include the inability to distinguish the letters s, h, and f, which could make hearing difficult.

            If kids ask for one of these devices, there are a few things parents and caregivers can do to lower the risks. Substituting earbuds for headphones will allow them to listen to music but leave a safer barrier between the music and ear canal. Also, set musical limits. All musical devices enable users to set volume controls. Browse the settings menu and set the volume lower than 85 decibels. Finally, limit the time spent on these devices. The younger the user, the less time they should spend. As younger consumers get older and want to listen to music more often, set time intervals. Remember, hearing loss doesn’t happen instantaneously, it happens over time.

Do Children Play Anymore?

Childhood is all about learning, growing, experiencing, and playing. The days should be made for kickball games, races, and making snowmen with neighborhood pals. With advancements in technology, days spent outside have begun to fade away and replaced by the days of game systems, iPads, and solo play. While parents and caregivers have probably noticed the change from imaginary to virtual friends, medical experts have now started to research the effects.

            New medical research shows that, in a one-mile footrace, a kid today would finish a minute and a half behind a typical child from 1975. This could correlate to the high obesity rate of current times as compared to that of four decades ago, but what else is to blame? Children need to be exposed to a more physical lifestyle. While everyone deserves to enjoy the positives of technology, limits need to be set.

            It’s now time for caregivers and parents to go beyond curtailing T.V. watching. One way to transition from technology play to outdoor play is to partake in physical activity, join in! Here are a few ideas to bring playtime back in a healthy way:

• Ready, get set, go! Challenge your charge to a race. The first one to the corner gets to choose dinner from a healthy menu of choices. 
•  Goal! Set up the soccer net in the backyard and invite the neighborhood kids over for a game. Create a tournament for ongoing play. 
•  Push the pedal! Go for a bike ride before the sun goes down.
• Tag, you’re it! Head out to the yard for a game of tag. The more the merrier.
• Shake it! Zumba is a dance craze that also serves as an intense cardio workout.

These are just a few suggestions that allow for kids to get up, get out, and have fun. They also allow for parents and caregivers to get involved. Let’s start playing again!

The Influence of Social Media On Youth

Living in the age of social media, status updates, and automatic news feeds means the information highway has become influential, regardless of age demographics. The American Academy of Pediatrics released data correlating to youth and social media stating: 22% of teens log onto these sites more than 10 times per day, 75% have access via mobile device, and the prolific use of social media has increased the risk of cyber bullying and depression among teens.

      Social media, while potentially dangerous to the naive, has positively increased communication, provided abundant access to information, and has allowed younger users to easily use their own creativity to construct their online profiles. In 2005, Facebook originated as a university based site and allowed access only to users with an “.edu” address. Today, Facebook is internationally accessible to users over the age of 13. The American Academy of Pediatrics developed 13 tips for parents regarding online danger prevention and educating young social media consumers:

1. No underage activity. No child under 13 should have access to social media sites
2. Parents should check computer privacy settings, limiting access once a child is old enough to navigate on their own.
3. Use filter software to monitor which sites children visit.
4. Set ground rules before a social media profile is created
5. Know your child’s interests. Their likes will become their top searches.
6. Keep the computer in a central location to monitor usage and content.
7. Monitor pictures. Once a picture is posted, the image can never be destroyed.
8. Parents should set a good example, displaying appropriate profiles of their own.  Limiting cell phone use will help to limit access to social networks
9. Teach children about online reputations. 
10.  Parents need to understand technology & their children’s level of knowledge.
11.  Discuss online dangers, predators, and scams.
12. Urge children to stay away from giveaways, contests and questionnaires that request personal information.

Technology use is a societal norm. In less than a decade, the age of social media users has decreased by five years of age. While children are developing socially, emotionally, and mentally, technology serves as a central place for information communication. If boundaries are not set and online activity is not monitored closely by parents, the fallout of posting inappropriate comments or pictures by naïve children may come back to haunt them in unexpected ways.

“What Has Technology Done To Us?

Have you ever had that moment when the message tone on your phone goes off and you wonder, “How am I going to take the phone out of my toddler’s hand?” Many parents are asking that question multiple times throughout the day. We now live in a society where technology allows us to have everything at our fingertips. Instead of going out to buy books to read or hundreds of toys to play with, something so simple as an iPhone or iPad can bring all of those things to the living room, the car, and even the doctor’s office. Everything is available via portable device.  IPhones and other various smart phones come equipped with apps ranging from television shows, to pictures, interactive activities, and sound games. It seems more logical to have children learn via a device, though, while all of these advances are making our lives more accessible, what is the impact on kids who know them as the only available source of entertainment?

          The more helpful technology becomes to us, the more addicted the next generation will become. Every time a new phone, tablet, or iPad is released, we take away one more intrapersonal moment. A key factor in healthy childhood development is social interaction. If a child is regularly attached to a device, they limit the time they spend interacting with others and learning through imitation. While these may seem like minor details at the toddler stage, as time marches on, will the next generation understand the importance of hardback books, paper magazines, or talking verbally?

            Medically, apparently these behaviors can lead to issues down the line. Every adult who grew up with a T.V. was told that if they sit too close to the television, they will ruin their eyes. Same is true of phones and tablets. With the screens usually no further than one foot away from the eye, technology can be damaging to the youthful eye. I wonder if the fact that more children than ever are wearing glasses is a result. The time children spend indoors on different technological devices, when they could be outside running, jumping, climbing, and doing something better for their health is another consideration. Inactive children possess a higher risk of becoming obese than children who are consistently physically active.

            There is no doubt why children are addicted to technology. It’s because, as adults, we are. Technology flew in on its broom and gave us time. Instead of typing a paper, we can now speak into a device and our words appear on the screen, allowing us to multitask. The age of who gets a gift of an iPad, tablet, or laptop has become younger and younger. While there are pros and cons, think about the balance. For every hour a child stays mesmerized on their device, that’s less outdoor play they may enjoy or even one more friend they never get the opportunity to make at the park that day. 

Idea From:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/07/kids-and-phones-smartphones-child_n_2079105.html?utm_hp_ref=parents&ir=Parents