Posted on 02/14/2018
During the slow wave sleep, a child's brain is developing and growing. In order for that development to take place, children need more than a certain number of hours in bed; they need restful sleep. One factor that can interrupt their ability to get both the proper quantity of sleep and the proper quality of sleep is their being plugged into electronics. Both screen exposure and even the presence of gadgets in the bedroom can keep your child from getting the kind of sleep he or she needs.
Light-Emitting Screens Inhibit Relaxation
Regardless of what we're watching on a screen, its unnaturally bright light signals the brain that despite the time, it doesn't need to release melatonin — the chemical that promotes sleepiness. Usually released when the eyes are exposed to darkness, melatonin is the body's way of naturally promoting sleep. Exposure to light-emitting screens before bed time — whether from TVs, tablets, or smart phones — ends up leading to lack of sleep as well as problems with concentration and moodiness. Most experts encourage avoiding screens for the hour prior to bed time. Instead, incorporate calmer bedtime activities, such as reading, playing a board game, doing a puzzle, or taking a bath.
In addition to the light emitted from screens, having tech devices by your child's bedside can expose your child to electromagnetic radiation or EMR. Unless the device is set to "Airplane Mode,” it will be communicating with cell towers and/or internet, potentially disrupting release of melatonin.
Online or Gaming Activities Create Stress
Even if children with technology exposure at night can get to sleep and don't allow access to screens to lure them awake, the kind of sleep they're getting isn't always restful. Some experts are calling it the "wired-and-tired" syndrome, and it's caused by entering into a state of stress.
Whether your child plays video games, scrolls through social media, or simply sends text messages to a few friends, the result is an increase in pulse and blood pressure. This fight-or-flight reaction is triggered by the high level of visual and cognitive stimulation due to exposure to any type of screen time. And the effects are still present hours later. When the brain and body are in a state of stress, the kind of sleep a person gets is not conducive to feeling well-rested upon waking or experiencing daytime alertness.
Screen Addictions Can Cause Health Problems
As a by-product of nighttime screen time, many young people mindlessly overeat and drink caffeinated beverages, which causes even more stimulation and hormonal imbalance.
Although they can cause significant problems in themselves, sleep disorders aren't the only results of sleep deprivation in children and adolescents. An increasing number of young media addicts are also experiencing health problems, such as anxiety, degraded memory, depression, hyperactivity, and obesity.
To find out more about what's okay to have on your child's night stand, check out our next post.
To shop for your child's next night stand, take a look at the great selection we offer at The Bedroom Source.
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