That’s right! Your kid’s mind (and possibly yours?) on Mindcraft, looks like a mind on drugs!!
Did you know that the human brain isn’t fully developed until we are somewhere around 25 years of age?
And there’s a debate among researchers about whether this doesn’t take place until somewhere between ages 30 and 40, while still others say it could be even later. We should also keep in mind that brain development, just like every other aspect of our development, varies from person to person.
Think about that for a moment factoring in the prefrontal cortex, the brain region has been implicated in planning complex cognitive behavior, personality expression, decision-making, and moderating social behavior.
Technology has broadened our horizons, enhanced education and our lives in countless ways. Yet there is another side to the story, especially when it comes to young developing minds.
“An ounce of prevention” was never truer than as it relates to electronics. Kids are more prone to addictive escape, especially when they feel alone, alienated, purposeless and bored. With the hectic pace most adults maintain these days, it is easy to lose track of how many hours children spend mesmerized by electronics. It is time to pay attention and keep track, realizing how it may be affecting them. At the bottom of this article there is a link to a recent write up where you’ll learn that well-known techies are more mindful than most in limiting their youngsters time with “gadgets”.
In working with children and adolescents, parents report many of the challenges mentioned in the article such as games holding so much interest that many begin to lose interest in sports, refuse to do chores, become cranky and/or defiant, throw temper tantrums, become disruptive in classes and social situations, and more...Yes, of course many things contribute to those behaviors, but electronics are a huge contributing factor. And it is addictive!
What I don’t agree with in the article, is that when it is decided that a child is addicted, it is suggested that a full digital detox of four to six weeks needs to take place before any form of therapy can have a chance of being effective. Genuinely addicted or not, in my experience I have found that EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) has proven highly effective without a digital detox.
Besides, with the endless ways we are exposed, it seems difficult to believe a “full digital detox” is a realistic possibility.
Helping parents/caregivers to develop a schedule that includes
a wide variety of activities and social interaction is an essential first step. When it is met with resistance, as one might naturally expect, EFT can ease the pain for the parents/caregivers as well as the child!
From the beginning, even as the new schedule is being developed and initiated, the work to resolve the issues that create the desire for addictive escapes can produce remarkable results. The pain of withdrawal can be avoided, as healthier habits and behavior begin to take place.
Here is the article that is more than worth the read. Please view the video it includes that is less than one minute:
It’s ‘digital heroin’: How screens turn kids into psychotic junkies
If you’d like to learn more, you can check out another article I wrote recently entitled “Addicted to tech? 7+ things you should know”
You’ll find it here: http://www.personalpeacefoundation.org/single-post/2016/10/10/Unknowingly-addicted-to-tech-7-things-you-should-know
More soon about technology, brain development and life…
Your questions and comments as always are welcomed and encouraged. We would love to hear from you.
Gratitude,
Sophia