The use of digital devices during childhood shouldn’t be prohibited, but it should be limited and done responsibly. No smartphone before 18 months and maximum one hour a day before 6 years. Never use them as sedatives, during meals or before sleeping. And don’t forget to set a good example, also by respecting the online privacy of the child, whose photos are increasingly published in the media from an early age. These are some of the tips contained in a ‘Decalogue for the digital health of children and young people’, created by the specialists of the Bambino Gesù Hospital in collaboration with Almaviva.
The vademecum was developed within the project “At school of… digital” which includes 18 online educational videos. The aim is to teach families to manage devices in a balanced way, explaining to them the functioning of social channels, Metaverse and ChatGpt, but also the consequences of prolonged exposure to screens and the risks of using them without filters and limits.
“The devices – he says Alberto Villani, head of General Pediatrics at the Bambino Gesù Hospital – have assumed an increasingly central role in the lives of parents and children. It is very important to provide the tools necessary to develop awareness of this, especially in the summer, a period in which the very young have a lot of free time”.
“Digital – he claims Michele Svidercoschi, Director of Communications and Institutional Relations at Almaviva – it is at the same time a valuable tool for inclusion and training, it simplifies life and opens up important opportunities, from the field of education to health“.
The Decalogue for the digital health of children and young people therefore responds to many of the most common questions, suggesting a conscious approach:
1) No screens under 18 months: It’s important for children under 18 months to avoid screens and encourage physical play and real-world exploration.
2) Between 2 and 6 years: one hour a day, preferably divided into 2 or more periods of 20-30 minutes, can be allocated to explore digital resources in a creative and educational way.
3) From 6 years and older: limit but not prohibit, a maximum limit of 2 hours per day of use must be established, in order to balance online time with sport, reading or study.
4) One night sleep: the use of digital devices one hour before going to bed should be discouraged, to guarantee a peaceful and quality rest.
5) The smartphone is not a sedative: the devices are often used to pacify tantrums or nervousness; instead we must prefer alternatives to manage emotions, such as outdoor play or drawing.
6) Precious family moments: dedicating meals and moments spent with the family to conversations and shared activities, avoiding the use of smartphones and tablets.
7) Digital time management: use the time management features provided by smartphone manufacturers to help kids regulate the time they spend on the devices.
8) Protected online: teach the importance of secure passwords and protect their privacy, for example by setting social profiles in private mode and evaluating who follows them online.
9) Educate on online safety: parents are role models for their children, so they must pay attention to the data and content shared online, showing respect for the privacy of the children themselves.
10) An open communication: maintaining a constructive dialogue, starting with an effort to get to know the digital world, educating in the critical use of devices.
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