New Bill Aims To Limit Younger Kids’ Screen Time In Schools
Concern over the amount of computer and cell phone screentime spent by children has been raising concern for several years. Now several state legislators want to do something about it. Guntersville State Rep. Jeane Ross (R-District 27) and co-sponsor Tuscaloosa Rep. Bill Lamb (R-District 62) have, along with 17 other members of the house, prefiled a bill (HB78) that would set screen time guidelines for children in daycares, pre-Ks and kindergartens.
Rep. Ross is a retired educator, so she has witnessed first-hand the negative control excessive time on the computer can have had on children. Rep. Lamb is backing the bill because of a concern over lack of personal development that can result, "We've had discussions with the mental health department, and they say that is something that needs to be worked on the most. Children are so attached to their computer, cell phone or iPad that they are not interacting with other children, getting exercise by playing outside and are damaging their eyes."
The problem is a growing one according to a joint statement issued by the American Psychological Association, Mayo Clinic Health System, the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control, "Excessive computer screen time negatively impacts children's physical health (obesity, eye strain, poor sleep), mental well-being (anxiety, depression, irritability), cognitive skills (attention, focus, language delays), and social development (difficulty reading emotions, fewer real-world interactions). It replaces crucial active play, face-to-face interaction, and quiet reflection needed for healthy brain development, often leading to a cycle where emotional issues drive more screen use."
Rep. Ross believes now is the time to take action, "Our economy, our workforce, everything hinges on what happens to that child in those first five years,” said Rep. Ross. “By working together, we’re gonna create a stronger way of making sure that the screens are applied or used appropriately for each age group.”
HB 78 has been referred to the Education Policy Committee in the house and is scheduled for a first reading on day one of the coming session on January 13th.
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