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Chandigarh, Oct 19 (IANS) Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) OP Singh has issued a warning message to parents about the dangers of excessive screen time for children following an accidental phone call from a child late at night.
Recalling the incident on
Using the episode to highlight the growing issue of screen addiction in children, DGP shared a video titled ‘Impact of too much screen time for children’ by psychologist Dr Rachel Sharman.
He stressed the importance of outdoor play and real-world social interaction, writing, “Let children grow up with clay in their hands, not glass in their palms.”
Singh also cited a 2021 Journal of Pediatrics study that said more than two hours of screen exposure daily increases the risk of depression and anxiety in children due to disruption of sleep patterns and over-stimulation of brain reward systems.
Elaborating on the findings, the DGP said, “The main mental health effects of screen time on children include increased risks of depression and anxiety, especially associated with video gaming and night-time screen use, which disrupt sleep and activate brain reward pathways associated with ADHD behaviour.”
She added that prolonged screen exposure “can lead to emotional and behavioral problems such as aggression, low self-confidence, social anxiety and difficulties in peer relationships, often creating a cycle where children use screens to cope with these challenges, worsening their symptoms.”
Singh further warned that excessive screen use can lead to “decreased social coping skills, impaired emotional regulation, and developmental delays in language, cognition, and social abilities”, especially when it replaces real-world interaction and outdoor activity.
She urged parents to take proactive steps to ensure a balanced childhood for their children, saying, “Limiting screen exposure and encouraging real-world socialization is important for healthy mental development.”
–IANS
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