础听mother scrolls Facebook on her phone while she breastfeeds her baby; a father chats on the phone while balancing his toddler on his knee at the park; parents hand over their iPads to twin 18-month-olds to get through a restaurant meal in peace. These are common and innocent-looking scenes, but they are symbolic of a damaging trend, according to studies.聽
鈥淥ne of the things we are finding is especially really, really young children are exposed to way too much screen time, and it is affecting their development and making them more vulnerable when they get into school,鈥� said Julie van Eesteren, early years coordinator at Sea to Sky Community Services.
The American Academy of Pediatrics聽recommends no screen time for children under age two 鈥� 鈥渘one whatsoever,鈥� emphasized van Eesteren.
Young children are also being impacted by a lack of eye contact and interaction with their parents while the adults are focused on screens, van Eesteren said.聽
鈥淲e want parents to realize they also need to put their devices down and connect with their kids,鈥� she said. 鈥淏reastfeeding moms are not looking at their beautiful babies, which they should be doing. Babies really need that eye contact in order for their social, emotional development to happen normally. They are looking at their phones.鈥澛�
Parents don鈥檛 mean to damage their children, van Eesteren stressed; it is a lack of understanding.聽
鈥淧arents are unaware this is really bad for their children,鈥� she said.聽
As a way to create awareness, Sea to Sky Community Services has planned an educational day for young families. A family-friendly Unplug and Play Day is scheduled for Sunday May 1 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Brennan Park Recreation Centre.聽
The day鈥檚 activities are still being planned, but some early ideas include yoga, dance, music, bike skills and art activities.聽
The 麻豆社国产artists鈥� collective Visuals is committed to having two age-based activity tables at the event with artists Elena Whitman,聽Andrea Andres and Dawna Werbeski working with children aged four to eight years at one table, and those nine to 14 years old at the other table, according to Whitman.聽
鈥淲e will show that聽even rocks can become toys, if you know how to paint聽or decorate them,鈥� said Whitman.聽
There will also be several tutorial lessons on cartoon painting and drawing.聽
Whitman grew up in Russia, where screens were not part of her upbringing, she said. 鈥淵ou were always playing outside,鈥� she said. 鈥淩unning around, playing hide and seek, whatever, fresh air and everything.鈥澛�
The more children are away from screens and exposed to their artistic side, the more chance for them to develop that aspect of themselves, Whitman said.聽
Her hope is more 麻豆社国产youngsters will get involved with the arts through a first step exposure at the May 1 event.
鈥淲ho knows? Maybe there will be a new generation of artists here.鈥澛�
