More short-sightedness among young people due to smartphones and tablets

In the news today: Erasmus MC, the university medical centre in Rotterdam, has found that using tablets or smartphones leads to more short-sightedness in children.

A quarter of thirteen-year-olds are short-sighted. That share used to be smaller, the researchers note.

Many children spend a lot of time indoors behind their smartphone and tablet. As a result, their eyes do not get used to looking into the distance. In the past, children’s eyes got more light because they played outside more, according to the researchers.

What can you do to prevent short-sightedness?
For children and young people whose eyes are still developing (up to the age of 20), the Dutch eye foundation Oogfonds recommends the 20-2-2 rule:
after 20 minutes of close-up work, take a 20-second break
spend at least 2 hours a day outdoors
in addition, we recommend keeping a distance of at least thirty centimetres from screens such as tablets.

What also helps:
Set a good example
When deciding how long your child may spend behind a screen, remember that you are your child’s role model. Children copy behaviour. Are you behind your smartphone, computer or tablet all day yourself? Then it becomes difficult to forbid your children to do the same. Make agreements you can keep yourself.

Make clear agreements
Once you have decided what you think is important, make clear agreements with your children. The clearer things are for children, the better they will stick to the agreements. Explain why you came up with these agreements and why they matter to you. Call your children out when they do not keep to them.

With Mytimingcards you make clear agreements together with your child; the cards and timer give more overview and balance, and fewer battles.

No parent wants their child to become seriously visually impaired or blind later in life. So more play and less screen time will hopefully prevent a lot of misery.
Source: Nu.nl and Oogfonds