As we approach the long summer holiday, we’re continually receiving reminders about the necessity for restrictions on digital devices to enhance the health and wellbeing of our children.
In breaking news last week, the Prime Minister announced the government's plan to ban under-16s from social media platforms. The recent Junior School ySafe cyber safety seminar advice was to take an approach summed up in the letters A, B and C: restrict Access, set Boundaries, and increase face-to-face Communication.
When in Sydney recently, psychologist Dr Jean Twenge spoke of the ‘machines killing our kids’ and the need to impose restrictions to slow the disruption in natural development processes caused by the sustained over-use of digital devices. Similarly, neuro-performance scientist, Dr Kristy Goodwin implores parents and carers to be the pilots of the digital world, by setting boundaries and ensuring the basic needs of children are met. She also promotes the necessity for boredom, which is a gateway to daydreaming and creative thought.
Jonathan Haidt, a prominent American psychologist whose book The Anxious Generation has received widespread publicity in 2024, asks us to think of all our great memories from childhood and then replace 80% them with screen time. Haidt implores us to provide children with the opportunity to unplug and to engage in essential, preferably unsupervised, free play.
Haidt points out that we overprotect children in the real world and under-protect them online, where the real dangers are. He advises that during unsupervised play time, children develop independence, test boundaries, learn to be part of a team, and feel empowered when they conquer fears. Haidt beseeches parents to allow their children to play outside, to move their body, to get tired, and to figure out interactions with other children.
He explains that before the ‘90s, kids experienced more risk, more thrills, more physical injuries, and fewer psychological injuries than they do today. Kids had more freedom to make mistakes and learn from them. He refers to children as ‘antifragile’ meaning they improve with wear and tear as do the roots of a tree in adverse conditions.
Recently, I took the opportunity to canvass a cross-section of Year 1 – 6 girls about the summer holiday activities they were most looking forward to. The girls discussed beach trips, swimming, walks, family, friends, pets, art, reading, dancing, good food, celebrations, and travel. Not one girl said her preference over the summer break was to spend time on a digital device.
Let’s therefore harness the girls’ wishes over summer and give them more green and less screen. In 50 Risks to Take With Your Kids, Daisy Turnbull explains when we take risks with our children, we teach them to be better adults. She says, ‘the more they are allowed to play in the mud, create games and find their own solutions to problems, the more they will thrive later in life’. The website Let Grow promotes ‘free range kids’ encouraging adults to step back so kids can step up. Unsupervised free play for our girls is resoundingly fruitful, as outlined in Locke’s book. The Bonsai Child. Check out Mrs Turner’s Spotlight: Developing Independence and Agency for other useful tips.
And as adults we should follow suit as role models. Let’s ditch digital devices as much as possible, relish real-life social interactions, the outdoors, exercise, recreation, hobbies, playing games, reading and adventures, and along with the girls, enjoy a wonderful summer break.