At least once a week in my office I will witness a child completely breaking down when asked to turn over an ipad or other device. The tears and outbursts seem more than just a tantrum and have many features of an anxiety or panic attack. Parents often confirm that the battle over computer and video games is so great they have thrown in the towel rather than endure their child’s distress.
In full disclosure, I am also the parent of a teenage boy with whom I regularly find myself negotiating screen time. I know all too well the frustration and helplessness a parent might feel as my teen tries to have me understand how vital his group chats and social media accounts are to his well-being.
As a therapist, however, I see an increasing number of children who are experiencing increased moodiness, impulsivity and difficulty paying attention. Parents and teachers refer children to me who are finding it difficult to organize themselves, complete tasks and make and maintain friendships. Often these symptoms are viewed as indicators for a diagnosis of ADHD or Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) and pharmaceutical treatment becomes the de facto treatment, before any exploration of screen habits is considered.
While the activity may provide them with short-term relief (and keep car rides and long office and restaurant waits quieter for parents), new medical research shows that extended screen time is changing the structure of children’s brains with serious impact on cognitive and emotional processing.
Shrinkage or loss of brain tissue in the frontal lobe has been documented in numerous studies of those addicted to internet and video gaming. The pre-frontal part of the brain is responsible for executive functioning and impulse control. Other brain damage associated with screen usage has been documented in the areas responsible for empathy and in the paths that connect the higher function brain to the emotional response center, resulting in a lower ability to regulate emotional responses – hence the tumultuous melt-downs.
During action-based games, the brain’s fight or flight response is triggered just as it would be in a real-life threat. This causes the release of stress hormones which have an adverse effect on the body.
Suggesting that your child is addicted to their tablet isn’t just hyperbole. Research also shows that playing video games releases dopamine in the brain, a chemical associated with reward processing and addiction. Your child may be experiencing cravings similar to what is experienced in drug and alcohol addiction.
California psychiatrist Victoria Dunckley suggests before accepting a diagnosis of an attention or mood disorder, parents may want to try a media/screen fast to rule out screen time as a culprit. Two weeks without computer, phone or television may seem like the equivalent of a strict gluten/dairy/sugar fast and nearly as difficult. However, it does offer a chemical-free way of isolating problematic behaviors and their potential causes.
If cold-turkey fasting feels impossible, consider a two week period during which screen time is not permitted during the week and for no more than two hours a day on the weekend. Engage your child in tracking moods, sleep, and physical symptoms like headache and stomach aches. Replace the screen time with at least 30 minutes a day of outdoor play and exercise.
At the end of two weeks, review with your child everything you and they have noticed. Compare results with classroom teachers to see if there are improvements there as well. If little has changed after two weeks, this will be valuable information for your child’s pediatrician or therapist as you pursue other causes.
Even if, in the end, you decide that that it’s unrealistic to completely eliminate screen time from your child’s life, you will have taught them to pay more attention to signals their body sends them about their needs, wants and desires. And you may find they discover a renewed interest in some forgotten pastimes as well.