Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/303138
26 | Washington Athletic Club Magazine | MAY 2014 Wellness By Jessica Samakow and Lori Leibovich I f it seems like your kids are constantly plugged in, tapping away on their cell phones, obsessively gaming, and SnapChatting way more than they're actually ... chat-chatting—well, that's because they are. It's estimated that children ages 8–18 spend an average of seven hours a day in front of screens; teens send an average of 3,417 text messages each month; and 97 percent of adolescents have at least one electronic device in their bedrooms. What's just as scary as how much time kids spend on screens is the effect it can have on their health. eir backs and wrists are sore, their sleep is disrupted, and their attention spans are diminished. Although it would be impossible to rid your kids' lives of technology completely— and you wouldn't want to, because of its many joys and benefits—parents can take a few measures to help prevent its negative mental and physical side effects. Here are some ways screens may be harming your kids' bodies and what you can do about it. SORE NECKS AND BACKS e human body's natural position is an erect posture with a little bit of lordosis (inward curve) in the neck and a bit of kyphosis (round curve) in the upper back. A person sitting in front of a computer is likely to have rounded shoulders and forward head posture, which puts a strain on the muscles and joints, causing soreness and fatigue. Tamela Thomas, Wellness Manager tamelat@wac.net 206.464.4639 On-screen dangers Health risks hide behind kids' plugged-in lifestyles W hen was the last time your teenager put a whole sentence together and spoke it while looking into your eyes? If your son or daughter is anything like my son, those are rare moments. It's not that my son is incapable of making meaningful and effective contact with his parents. It's more about the distraction of his cell phone. Texting is king. Music streaming through ear buds fills the gaps when thumbs are at rest. It started when he entered middle school. I noticed the kids in the carpool would get in the car and put on their ear buds. Not a word was uttered to their classmates. It is a new day as far as social expectations go for our kids. But what about the physical and psychological effects of this new world? This month's Wellness article addresses these questions and the risks of being constantly plugged in. The good news is that we parents can do something to help. Protecting teens and tweens