ESK Principal, Mr. MacDonald, collaborates with educational leaders globally during the Society of Heads meeting, where they delve into crucial conversations and discussions about education worldwide! This month’s topic – the ‘Screen Culture’!
Many of the world’s leading academic institutions are actively implementing measures to assist families in managing ‘screen time,’ which encompasses mobile phone access to social media and the overexposure to what is termed ‘Screen Culture,’ including television, social media, and gaming on tablets and laptops. An example is Eton College, a renowned all-boys private school in the UK, which restricts the use of mobile phones amongst their boarding students. Additionally, students under the age of sixteen have their SIM cards replaced with basic ‘Nokia-brick’ phones that do not allow access to social media.
In systematic reviews of literature conducted between 2011 and 2019, encompassing 25 observational studies, it is found that poorer mental health in children and adolescents can be related to over-long exposure to ‘screen culture’. It is widely recognized that a contributory factor is associated with sleep deprivation, and over-stimulation utilising a very narrow range of stimuli (visual/sound) without touch or personal components.
Balancing Screen Time at Home
One of the simplest actions all parents can take to promote healthy brain development is to keep mobile phones away from their children overnight. Similarly, it is advisable to switch off tablets and TV, so that adequate sleep can be gained as their children grow. It is important to consider the diverse range of stimuli that each child encounters during their educational journey. Not to mention, the value of play, socialization, outings and excursions, visits to museums, theatre performances, concerts, sports and pursuing other interests that do not involve ‘screen time’, should not be overlooked.
Socially, I frequently witness young families settle for a meal in a restaurant and place the tiniest of children next to a screen to focus their attention. As such, the children then ignore their surroundings, and in turn are often excluded from family conversations– the end result must be a form of social deprivation. While many attribute the COVID pandemic to hindering social development in youth, it is evident that in the post-pandemic era, many have developed a dependency on ‘screen culture.’ Children now navigate their surroundings insulated from others, often wearing headphones and desensitized to various stimuli.
Having assisted more than 400 gifted young individuals in gaining admission to prestigious institutions such as Oxford and Cambridge, amongst other excellent settings world-wide, I recommend initiating your planning early, when the children are young. This proactive approach will support their cognitive development and enhance their opportunities for happiness and fulfilment.
