1. Sleep disruption
(Image: Raising Children Network)
Kids need a minimum of 8 hours of sleep a night in order to function through the next day. With a phone, they would much prefer to stay up late talking to friends, playing games, or scrolling through social media. Over time, this causes fatigue and restlessness.
2. Radiation
(Image: Observer.com)
A 2010 study of cell phone radiation noted that, “in general and on average, children suffer a higher exposure of their brain regions than adults.” This is because children have proportionally smaller heads and brains, yet receive the same levels of cell phone radiation as adults. Children that used cell phones more were more likely to have ADHD.
3. Inappropriate media
(Image: northstar-tech)
Whether it’s an explicit pop-up ad on a free game, videos showcasing children’s cartoon characters in adult situations, or a forum promoting self-harm, an innocent search can expose children to content that can make them feel upset and confused. This will change their perceptions and thought process from a young age.
4. Cyber bullies and scammers
(Image: Perspective Counselling)
Children on social media may come in contact with cyberbullies who harass and bully them over the internet. Many children who have been cyber-bullied only admit their experience much later in life. By then the damage has already been done. Even exchanging images of their own, irresponsibly, may make them victims to many of the ongoing scams online.
Academic Performance
(Image: The Conversation)
It is a regular scene now for children to carry phones along with them everywhere like parks and restaurants. A consequence is children's attention span is slowly deteriorating and that will affect their lessons in school. With less focus, kids are also more likely to be clueless about studies and examinations.
There are ways you can protect your child from the dangers of a phone. Seek help from professionals for advice whenever in doubt. Ultimately as a parent, you always want to keep your kids safe from harm.