Did you know that too much screen time is harmful to your health? Experts cite excessive screen time as a cause of depression. It also hurts your eyes, disrupts your sleep, and causes gray matter atrophy in your brain. There are even new physical ailments like “text neck” and “text claw” cropping up, as we are hunched over our phones and keyboards, typing on small screens. Kids who spend too much time on their devices or watching TV may be twice as likely to have attention disorders, and it prevents development of social skills. Adults and kids alike who spend too many hours of the day on media are also at greater risk for obesity, and all that screen time added to the demand of jobs and homework leaves less time for everything else, like being out of doors. One recent survey found that only 10% of teens say they spend time outside each day.
We’ve all heard this before, but we are still addicted to our devices. Studies state that the average kid spends up to seven hours on devices each day. The kids are only following their parents’ actions – adults spend over nine hours a day looking at their screens, and some studies put that figure as high as 11 hours daily.
That’s why Westwood has declared April 29th to be Device Free Day.
Westwood’s Board of Selectmen has declared Sunday, April 29, to be Device Free Day in Westwood, at the request of Girl Scout Troop 66073, 5th graders from Deerfield Elementary School. The girls attended the Selectmen’s March 19 meeting and made the request after learning about the effects of screen time and observing use in their own town.
“We wanted to do this project because we noticed that people weren’t looking around and enjoying our town,” said Sofia Vitali, one troop member.
“We noticed that when people were on their phones instead of talking with the friends or family they were out with, they didn’t look as happy as people who were being social,” added Grace Barnett.
“When I ask my mom a question, if she’s looking at her phone, she won’t answer me,” many of the girls say.
The troop approached Selectman Nancy Hyde and Westwood’s Public Health Nurse Tiffany McCarthy with their concerns, to see if the town would help. They were thrilled to be invited to make their case to the Board of Selectmen and receive their support. “We were glad that they thought this was a good idea so that people would be more aware. They both told us that they see people on their phones all the time, even out to dinner,” said Scouts Angelina Homsy and Abby Waters.
What to do instead of focusing on your screens?
The hope is that people will put down their devices for the day – or at least limit their use - and go outside to enjoy nature. The girls point to studies that show getting off devices can make individuals happier, almost immediately. They also say that evidence shows that it’s good for one's brain to get some rest – cognitive psychologists believe that setting aside the screens and heading outside gives one's brain a chance to “reset,” leaving you better able to think and function in the long run.
For Girl Scouts and their families, the troop is offering a fun afternoon of activities as an alternative to being online or watching TV. Join them in the Community Room at the main library on Sunday, April 29, from 2:30-4:30, for fun activities, games and crafts.
