Catalan paediatricians recommend restricting mobile phone use as much as possible in compulsory education. Not only in preschool and primary school, but also in ESO. Without saying the word prohibition, they ask in a statement that the device be used in schools and institutes only if the teacher decides to do so for “specific educational purposes” or for “health reasons.” The restriction recommendation extends to extracurricular classes.
In the extensive document that the Catalan Pediatric Society sent this morning to paediatricians and the Department of Education to consider its content in order to regulate the use of mobile phones in schools, and to which La Vanguardia has had access, it warns in very detail about the risks it entails for children’s health and the need to regulate it at school and at home, as well as demanding more ethical behavior from technology companies.
The department will give a response at the end of this month, although it has already announced that it will prohibit it in primary school and that it will allow this issue to be debated in high schools, half of which have already regulated it. Likewise, the Ministry of Education and FP wants to reach an agreement with the communities on joint regulation throughout Spain.
Regarding schools, “we recommend that the use of mobile phones in educational centers and non-formal education environments be done exclusively for specific educational purposes or for health reasons,” the statement indicates. “This measure aims to promote healthy development, reduce emotional distress and mental disorders, reduce cyberbullying and not interfere with learning.”
For health professionals, the acquisition of digital skills, an essential learning in the education of children, does not necessarily involve exposure to autonomous devices.
Thus, they advise families to delay screen exposure (nothing before the age of 3, not playing with a cell phone before the age of 6 and moderately after). Give the first smartphone based on maturity “what happens in the last years of adolescence” and always with supervision.
They do not recommend the appropriate age to give the cell phone, but they give clues by emphasizing that parents are “the first providers of technology” for their children and that they constitute the first line of protection for the minor. Thus, they point out that the minor, to receive a telephone, has to have certain skills, such as maturity and sufficient digital competence “to be responsible” which is generally acquired “in the last years of adolescence.” In any case, it is worth starting with limited data, parental controls and antivirus protection.
The document advises scheduling non-digital activities, prioritizing schoolwork, extracurricular tasks, domestic tasks and leisure, always without screens. And write a family digital plan in which all family members are included, agreeing on which social networks, the age for what purpose, spaces, situation and time of use. And common use of passwords progressively allowing more autonomy and privacy.
As parents, it is worth talking about the risks and dangers in navigation, the importance of communicating if they find themselves in uncomfortable situations. They also highlight the importance of talking “explicitly” about healthy sexual relationships and the problems associated with viewing pornography.
On the other hand, pediatricians are in favor of supervising video game time to avoid compulsive behaviors and observe changes in habits, routines, sleep rhythm, emotional state, academic performance and relationships with peers.
They warn of the risks of early use, excessive use in time, with access to non-recommended applications, without supervision. And a long time of exposure, with inappropriate content and language (violent, promoters of risky behavior, distorters of reality and access to unhealthy food advertising). They also highlight the risks of cyberbullying, deception, identity theft, “sexcasting” and “sexextortion.”
By age, they recommend zero screens before the age of 3, of any kind. From 3 to 6 years old, television or tablet with moderate use and no video games or cell phones, except for calls. From that age onwards, do not leave them alone with the phone and accompany them progressively. No more than 30 minutes a day and not every day.
They also urge the exemplarity of the reference adults of these children (parents, relatives and teachers) using the mobile phone moderately and prioritizing activities such as “sleeping, exercising, interacting with friends, playing, being outdoors” over time. digital.
Other recommendations are to place mobile phones in common rooms and limit the time of use, although “the accompaniment and type of activity are more relevant than the time spent in front of the screen.” Control the volume and visual distance (minimum 30 centimeters from the mobile phone, 40 cm from the tablet and 50 cm from the computer). And do not use screens two hours before bed (leave cell phones out of the room).
Likewise, they consider that work-life balance should be improved so that parents have time to raise their children, as well as demanding more ethical behavior from technology companies.
