Sara Khan (9) | STAFF REPORTER
By this time, everyone has heard about the dangers of using too much technology. Between the eye strain, headaches, bad posture, carpal tunnel syndrome, and more, one might wonder why so many still manage to unwittingly get addicted to their devices. Using technology, of course, still has a myriad of benefits. The modern computer could be considered one of mankind’s greatest inventions, due to all of its possible uses. Nearly everyone has one, whether it’s for research, communication, entertainment, school, or work. So much can be learned and accomplished with just one device, and children often use them to learn and play. However, is it worth exposing children to these possible side effects?
These days, children typically use technology on a daily basis both to entertain themselves and keep up with schoolwork. It is difficult to live a life that doesn’t involve using technology in some way, and the habits of adults often reflect onto their children. It has taken over their lives to the point where the average amount of time a child spends on a screen is about 4 times more than the recommended screen time. Their lives have already been impacted greatly by electronic devices, and it makes sense for one to simply shift their child’s screen usage to educational applications rather than unhelpful ones. This gives children the opportunity to learn practically any skill they could imagine. It wouldn’t be a difficult adjustment to make, and they would be familiar with the device already.
Playing outside, on the other hand, at first seems like a much less fruitful use of time. Nevertheless, the benefits of outdoor play are nothing to sneeze at. Playing outdoors has proven to be miles better than screen time in terms of children’s overall wellbeing. Studies show that children who spend more time outside develop better motor skills, and are less likely to be nearsighted in the future. They are also more likely to have better physical and mental health, in addition to better sensory skills. There are no negative side effects other than the possibility of an injury or two, which sets it far above screen usage.
Of course, both do have their benefits. The ideal situation would be a very light amount of screen time, with most of the day spent playing outside. However, if one had to be ultimately chosen over the other, outdoor play would win by a long shot.
