Monitoring Toddlers and Technology: The Importance of Limiting Screen Time

Running head: English Essay
English Essay
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1ENGLISH ESSAY
INTRODUCTION:
With the advent of technology, most parents resort to gadgets to entertain their children,
which can lead to a tech addiction among children. However, studies show that regular
interaction with technological devices enhances eye-hand coordination, reaction time and multi
tasking in children. Technological devices can also impart education. However, excessive use of
technology instead of enhancing eye-hand coordination can harm the eyes of children as the
screens of television and laptop emit harmful radioactive waves. In addition, it causes strain in
eyes, which can lead to blurry vision, eye fatigue and focus issues. Monitoring toddlers and
technology is thus extremely important because if one fails to monitor toddlers, it can lead to
behavioral problems in toddlers such as addiction or depression. In addition, toddlers may not get
enough sleep and exhibit delay in learning and adopting social skills. According to Neumann,
toddlers who watch violent content on television are more likely to exhibit thoughts and
behaviour that is aggressive in nature. Technology also leads to a decrease in the physical
activity of a child thereby having a detrimental effect on the growth of a child. Children who
tend to use technology excessively are prone to sleeping disorders and anxiety (Neumann, 10).
DISCUSSION:
Monitoring toddlers and technology is extremely important because studies have revealed
that toddlers who spend up to three hours a day looking at a television, tablet or smart phone
could develop screen dependency disorders later in their childhood (Nikken, 11). A toddler
who unknowingly perceives a technological device as a toy, cultivate a sense of dependence on
the technological device. Intensive exposure to technological gadgets may lead toddlers to
develop an addiction later in their childhood. The screen habits of children develop early and last

2ENGLISH ESSAY
for years (Hernandez, 8). Greater monitoring of children and the time they spent staring on
screens can decrease early exposure, change the media consumption habits of children and
prevent screen dependency disorders later in life.
It is imperative to monitor toddlers and technology because bedtime use of technological
devices like laptops, phones and tablets increase the risk of poor sleep in toddlers, which
results in daytime sleepiness (Hernandez, 8). Technological devices such as mobile phones,
tablets and laptops has an adverse impact on sleep through a plethora of ways which includes
displacing, interrupting or delaying sleep time wherein it psychologically rouses the human brain
and affects circadian timing, alertness, and sleep physiology. Sleep disturbance during childhood
has a detrimental effect on the mental and physical health consequences. It also leads to poor
diet, obesity, sedative behaviour, stunted growth, reduced immunity and issues pertaining to
mental health (Hernandez, 8). Thus, technological devices that include media devices have a
detrimental effect on the quality of sleep as well as the duration of sleep. Sleep along with proper
diet and nutrition plays an important part in the development of a child and a lack of sleep leads
to a plethora of health problems in toddlers. Thus, it is imperative to monitor toddlers and
technology so that children can get enough sleep.
It is extremely crucial to monitor toddlers and technology because excessive use of
technological devices can harm toddlers, have a serious detrimental effect on their health,
and cause health problems. Excessive use of technology results in children not getting enough
exercise, which is detrimental to their mental and physical health as it, slows down the
development of their brain (Dennis, 4). An excess use of technology can also lead to toddlers
become dyslexic, which can prevent their brains from grasping things quickly. Studies have
revealed that cell phones emit radiation, which may increase the chances of being afflicted with