I recently met a pediatrician friend, and as we were discussing parenting, she said something like “electronics is an epidemic that would poison our kid’s generation and their brains” – This was a strong statement to make… and while yes, it is common sense that everything children experience in the first few years helps shape how they learn, feel, and get along with others but how many of us actually truly understand what actions we enable that hinders their growth?

Here are the few things my research led me to, and I have to say, I had to create some ground rules myself around these, in my home 🙁

Digital Excess – We all are guilty of this. Let’s not lie. We all have given in, when we wanted a break, or wanted to socialize or wanted some peace and it is Okay… to do so. But in moderation. Too much screen time can lead to reduced social interaction, attention and digital device dependency.

Sleep Deprivation – So many parents think it is Ok if they sleep late, but it has been proven that chronic sleep deprivation can lead to decreased alertness, mood swings, cognitive deficits and learning abilities.

Lack of Physical Activity – Kids need to burn energy otherwise it can hinder their brain activity by reducing blood flow to the brain and limits opportunities for learning and problem-solving.

Inadequate Mental Stimulation – Engaging activities are crucial for kids to learn, adapt and grow by forming new neural connections and refining existing ones.

Nutritional Shortcoming – Excess sugar is bad, we all know that. But not many give equal importance to nutrient-rich foods – especially in our culture, there is so much emphasis on “Fast Food”. Eating healthy diet is important for blood sugar fluctutations, maintaining activity levels and concentration issues.