From the Head

The Summer Christmas holiday period looms large in the hearts and minds of Australians. I am sure many people can still feel the sticky vinyl seats and burning metal belt buckles of the family car, endured over the miles travelled with siblings and friends on the way to the beach. Nowadays, the backseat car scene is typically very different. Children are likely to have a screen in their hand or even built into the back of the seat. They will likely have something over or in their ears, making conversation or a game of eye-spy impossible. Whether or not modern travel is better or worse for the resilience or otherwise of young people is debatable. One thing that is not questionable is the impact of excessive screen time on a developing brain. 

As we head into the long summer holiday, screen time for most children will be inevitable. Recreational screen time such as playing video games, watching television, browsing the internet, and connecting via Social Media will likely form a part of almost every day. The key words here are ‘a part’. Research on screen time is varied, and there are many nuances that are not well understood yet, such as which forms of screen time can be beneficial or harmful. 

A good rule of thumb is for students in Senior School to contain screen time each day to a maximum of two hours. Holiday periods are a time when normal boundaries might blur. I encourage all families to ensure that the screen-time rule does not slide during holidays or at any time. 

A large recent study involving over 28,000 Year 7 students conducted by the University of British Columbia found that longer screen time (more than two hours a day) was associated with lower levels of life satisfaction and optimism and higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. One study alone does not constitute conclusive evidence, and not all young people are equally at risk of harm when using digital media. However, this and other research does act as a powerful reminder of the sense of implementing and sticking to the 2-hour rule. 

The theory is always easier to adopt than the reality. Given teenagers have by necessity used screens more than ever during repeated periods of lockdown, dependency on digital devices is rife. Weaning our teenagers off screens is an excellent holiday goal, but clinical psychologist Dr Andrew Fuller advises parents to tread gently. 

He says, “Screen time is trance time. After an extended period of intensive screen time, we need to gently ease and wean our teens.”

Dr Fuller has some valuable tips for parents that I urge you to read if you have a child who spends excessive time on screens. He cautions that for some children, being without access to technology brings painful feelings for teens. They may report feeling lonely, upset or anxious.

You can read the article by Dr Fuller here: 

https://theparentswebsite.com.au/wean-your-teen-off-the-screen-tips-from-andrew-fuller/

Of course, the more difficult fact to face is that one of the best ways we can encourage teenagers to use digital devices responsibly is by demonstrating responsible use ourselves. This includes modelling the behaviours and habits that we know can actually act as protective measures that are associated with higher levels of life satisfaction. In the research cited above by the University of British Columbia, extracurricular participation was associated with better mental health outcomes.

When children see their parents go for a walk, it registers. When children see their parents socialising with friends, they witness the pleasure of human connection. When families insist that phones be put away during visits to family and friends, and even over a meal, the interactions that follow are deeper and more enjoyable. 

I hope that these school holidays, families have many opportunities to lessen reliance on screens, enjoy long walks together, and start the ‘screen-wean’ process as we return to a COVID-normal life. 

Dr Clayton Massey

HEAD