Bengaluru: Health professionals in Bengaluru are sounding the alarm about the profound risks of excessive screen time for children, highlighting critical concerns about physical, emotional, and social development in an increasingly digital world.
At the Get, Set, Grow children’s wellness summit organised by Happiest Health, leading medical experts stressed the urgent need for parental intervention. Dr Arvind Shenoi, clinical director of neonatology and paediatrics at Rainbow Children’s Hospital, described children as navigating three interconnected worlds: Real, dream, and virtual. ‘The cyber world, while offering opportunities, disrupts critical life areas by stealing time from real-world experiences and sleep,’ Shenoi warned. He linked excessive screen exposure to potential health challenges including sleep disturbances and obesity.
Pediatric ophthalmologist Dr Sowmya R from Sankara Eye Hospital raised specific concerns about eye health, particularly for children under three. ‘Prolonged screen time increases risks of myopia, eye strain, and accommodative issues,’ she said, while recommending limiting screen exposure and encouraging outdoor activities to support natural vision development.
Dr Santosh Kumar, a senior pediatric consultant, highlighted the social-emotional implications and said gadgets significantly reduce children’s ability to read non-verbal cues, develop empathy, and engage in imaginative play. The experts unanimously advocated for a balanced approach. They recommended that parents limit screen time, encourage physical activities, model healthy device usage, increase engagement in family interactions and watch for early warning signs like squinting or headaches.
‘By fostering meaningful relationships and promoting play outside the digital realm, parents can help children develop into emotionally and physically healthier individuals,’ Shenoi concluded.
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