New technologies and Internet it is part of all of our lives and especially when it comes to socializing and entertainment. However, there are many dangers lurking, from misinformation, to dependence on screens or social media. Especially for children, parents must take on the role of guide, in order to show them not only the correct use of the internet and social media, but also to protect them from harmful habits for themselves.

APE-MPE spoke with Maya Metaxopoulou, psychologist – psychotherapist of Line 11525 and the “Together for the Child” Counseling Center about the good practices of using digital media, what parents and children should avoid, but also how the time a child spends in front of a screen can be correctly delimited.

How we can reduce our chances of exposure to online risks

“The engagement of children and teenagers with new technologies and the internet can offer many possibilities and opportunities for socialization, entertainment and learning,” said Ms. Metaxopoulou to APE-MPE. He also noted that children adapt to a large extent harmoniously and quickly to the use of digital media. “Parents, therefore, have to balance, on the one hand, the need for protection from the risks that exist in the use of digital media, and on the other, the utilization of the possibilities and opportunities they offer,” he pointed out.

According to Ms. Metaxopoulou, six basic steps to ensure safe internet browsing are the following:

  • In toddler and school age (5-11 years), it is recommended that the computer be in a common area (e.g. living room) so that the parent can supervise the child’s use of the Internet.
  • Browsing the Internet during certain times of the day when at least one parent or guardian is present.
  • Check the permitted ages recommended for online games, social media and online videos.
  • Make use of parental control programs (block inappropriate websites, create website filtering rules, set internet access hours).
  • Informing the child about the actions that need to be taken in case of exposure to risk (notifying the parent, screenshot, blocking accounts, prosecuting cybercrime).
  • Familiarization of the guardian with all the applications that the child uses (games, social media) in order to be able to convey to the child the rules of responsible and correct use.

How can we use free time?

Summer time off is often a big challenge for parents to make the most of it. Exposure in front of a screen is the first and easiest solution. However, the summer months are an important opportunity for everyone to escape from the… routine of exposure to a screen, whether it is a mobile phone, a computer, or a television.

The use of free time should be done in terms of quality time in front of a screen, but also with activities that offer quality time between family members.

“By ‘quality’ of screen time we mean films, series, videos and programs that parents will watch together with their children and open topics for conversation. This parent-child interaction is more possible on shared screens, such as the TV and computer, than on personal screens, such as mobile phones and tablets,” said Ms. Metaxopoulou.

What should be avoided, however, is leaving the TV on throughout the day. “It’s a particularly disruptive stimulus and often also includes stressful news and images that parents will need to frame,” she noted.

Looking away from screens, summer is a prime opportunity for outdoor activities. As the psychologist-psychotherapist mentioned, bathing in the sea, hiking, trips to nearby destinations, summer cinemas, summer shows and visits to museums and archaeological sites are “excellent opportunities” for quality time between family members and to create happy memories.

In addition, simple bike rides, “classic” interactive games such as hide-and-seek and sports such as soccer, basketball, volleyball, and dance are activities that can provide joy and rejuvenation. to all family members.

Of course, a basic alternative activity, helpful in reducing the time in front of the screens, remains reading a book. “It is important that parents read stories to younger children and encourage older children by giving them books that are relevant to their age and interests,” noted Ms. Metaxopoulou.

How much time can my child be in front of a screen?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is recommended to:

  • Avoiding screen media until 18 months
  • Up to 1 hour/day for ages 2-5 years
  • Up to 2 hours/day for ages 6-12

From 2-12 years, times can be changed if screen time is needed to deal with school and learning obligations.

In particular for the toddler age (2-5 years), it is deemed necessary that the toddler’s contact with digital media takes place in strictly certain and specific contexts (e.g. a video call with a relative where the screen will be at a distance from the toddler, low brightness and reduced decibels). In addition, it can be used to read a digital book (tablet) or to play a game at specific and fixed times of the day. In addition, it is necessary to avoid any form of screen at least 1 hour before bedtime.

How time limits are defined

Delimiting the time the child spends on the screen (screen time) becomes increasingly difficult in the era of new technologies and the digital world. As Ms. Metaxopoulou mentioned, a “hostile climate” is being formed for parents, who are called upon to impose limits, at the same time that societies are rapidly evolving.

The most effective demarcation of time on the screen, according to her, requires:

  • There should be harmony between the parents.
  • Safe space to express the child’s feelings and thoughts.
  • Calm atmosphere of cooperation.
  • Motivations and opportunities for the child to separate from the screen:
  • Enrolling the child in team sports
  • The cultivation of musical education
  • Shared activities outside the home
  • Child’s love for reading
  • Reducing the amount of time parents themselves spend on the cell phone or computer
  • Vigilance on the part of the guardians regarding the emotional and social development of the child.

The dangers of reckless use

According to Ms. Metaxopoulou.

  • During early childhood (0-5 years): The child’s brain undergoes rapid cognitive, social and emotional development. The quality of experiences during this period, including exposure to screens, can affect such critical processes as language development, concentration, and problem solving. Direct human interaction is very important during early childhood.
  • At school age (6-12 years): Too much screen time can reduce the time available for extracurricular activities, which are important for social and academic development. In addition, excessive screen time in children of this age group can reduce the quality and duration of sleep, which is linked to cognitive development.
  • Adolescents (13-18 years): are also significantly affected by too much screen time, especially in terms of their mental health. There appears to be a strong link between high levels of screen use and symptoms of depression and anxiety in teenagers. In particular, social media use can affect self-esteem and body image, contributing to psychological distress.