Jj is for Jottings 161. What is Phubbing?
Question: “What is Phubbing?” Answer: “Telephone snubbing.” The word comes from ‘phone’ and ‘snubbing’. It is the act of ignoring people in favour of a telephone. Look around you in almost any public place and you will see numerous acts of phubbing occurring. Continue reading
Jj is for Jottings 158. Smartphones in Schools.
A few days ago (July 2023) in Australia, smartphones in schools were banned. Some states had already banned or restricted their use, but the ban is now nationwide. The ban also includes smartwatches. There are quite a few reasons to ban smartphones in schools given below, but there is also the overriding factor of how smartphones affect the brain.
Smartphones in Schools. “I’m not going to have a smartphone – and I’m not going to school, either.”
Jj is for Jottings 154. How Smartphones Affect the Brain.
In this article we will cover some of the latest research on how smartphones affect the brain. We have previously discussed the effects of screen time on children. Amongst other aspects, this included language delay in children exposed to screens at an early age. We have also discussed the effects of digital distraction, which relates to a range of technological devices. Here we will look into the specific effects on the brain of smartphones, rather than screens in general. Continue reading
Jj is for Jottings 152. The Effects of Watching Violence.
Did you know that the effects of watching violence are different from the effects of simply reading about violence? Researchers consistently find that, the more often you watch disturbing scenes, the more anxious you become. This can result in forming long-term traumatic memories. Your brain is unable to distinguish between reality and fiction when viewing violence on screen. Continue reading
Jj is for Jottings 115. Digital Distraction.
Digital distraction is that constant checking of phones and multi-tasking which we see going on around us all the time (or even engage in ourselves). There is a theory that our ancient food-foraging survival instinct has evolved into info-foraging. It is sort of a hijacking of the same system that was critical for our survival in terms of seeking out food. It has now been directed at seeking out information, and the result is digital distraction.
“There is no digital distraction in this paddock, thank you very much.”
Jj is for Jottings 99. Print Books are Better than Digital Books for Toddlers.
The question of whether print books are better than digital books for toddlers is a concern for many parents who are looking to do the best by their children. Here are two pieces of evidence, one anecdotal and one from research, which will answer this question. Continue reading
Jj is for Jottings 92. Managing Children’s Screen Time.
The easiest way to manage children’s screen time is to avoid screens altogether as much as possible, by providing alternative activities. Rory, the foal, is looking over Amy’s shoulder, trying to read “Aa is for Alpacas” with Amy, Zack and Zara.
This article on managing children’s screen time follows on from the effects of screen time on children and parents’ screen time.
This has already been covered in the previous article.
Jj is for Jottings 91. Parents’ Screen Time.
This follows on from the effects of screen time on children. Before we go into the topic of how to limit our children’s screen time, we need to look to parents’ screen time.
No parents’ screen time here. This “parent” has his full attention on the “child”, complete with eye contact. Good parenting skills, David.
Studies from the University of Bristol show that the amount of time a child spends on a screen is closely associated with their parents’ own habits. They found that children were 3.4 times more likely to spend more than 2 hours a day watching television if their parents did the same. This is when compared with children whose parents watched less TV. The statistic carries over into other screen types as well. Continue reading
Jj is for Jottings 90. The Effects of Screen Time on Children.
Avoiding the effects of screen time on children – Zara, Amy, Seth and Zack reading “Aa is for Alpacas” AND outside.
By now, there have been many studies done on the effects of screen time on children. My own observations on this subject are here and here. And here is an article on parental concerns about screen time. So, let’s have a look at some of the recent research. Continue reading
Jj is for Jottings 66. 7 Tips for Reluctant Readers.
Some early readers find large blocks of print rather daunting and are therefore reluctant to read. Here are some tips for getting around this: Continue reading
