Children and Electronics

Our Children and Electronics 

Thursday Halaqa Notes

10/27/16

Ustadha Dana Jarrar

MCA Santa Clara, CA

- My kids need you, your kids need me. We need to be examples. We need strong people. And that doesn't come except from Allah. So we need to make sure we are doing our Salat, Qiyam, thikr, du'a, we cannot be strong without them.

- As we were talking last week about the challenges we face in achieving the goals we have for our children, you mentioned electronic devices. Electronic devices affect children in many ways. Maha Shehadeh has made two handouts which explain the affects and also give us guidelines by age on how much electronics children can use daily. This is based on a book by Dr. Hilarie Cash. There are 5 main ways that electronics can affect children.

What do electronics do to our children?

1. Slows brain growth.
- Notice the kids these days can't memorize as much? Can't focus as much? You have about 100 billion brain cells. Each brain cell can make thousands of connections with another cell resulting in trillions of connections. These brain cells are what makes creativity and problem solving. These devices don't let these connections happen. Which results in poor memorization, focus, creativity, and problem solving. This is because when kids are watching there is less thinking. But creativity is the basis of problem solving! The child with creativity can solve their social problems. Where is the innovation that used to be? We want to raise a new generation of creative, innovative people who can solve problems in the society. 

2. Weakens the Body and Health.
- The use of electronics lowers the amount of movement and exercise. This raises their chance of diabetes, heart attack, and stroke.  

Us - highest sales in nutrition , Kuwait 2nd , 4th Jordan 

The food from outside you don't know what is in it. When you cook call it Ibadah. 

Watching Tv and video increasing diabetes, because they don't move. 

3. Affects Mental Health.

- Kids are starting to have depression. Studies found correlation between technology use and depression.
- It increases anger and anxiety because the screen flashes quickly. In schools you notice kids are impatient and get frustrated quickly. 

- Also increases bipolar and autism.

4. Increases Violence.
- Look at recess time and the bullying in schools. This is due to the violence in the shows and games. Then they get punished more by their parents because of their violent behavior.

5. Decreases attention span and ability to concentrate and focus.
- The screen flashes quickly with many pictures, which weakens their ability to pay attention and focus.

- Nutrition also affects child. Don't let them eat artificial colors which kills brain cells. And hydrogenated oils blocks brain nerves. 

- We see these problems in our kids, and this behavior is hard to deal with, so we go and let them watch tv to get them off our backs. No, let them bother you, because soon they will find something to do and get used to playing . 

- Dr. Hilarie Cash's books - "Restart", "Hooked on Games", "Video Games and Kids".

Let's Look at how many hours are allowed for children on the devices.

Less than 2
- 0 minutes , nothing, not even non violent shows 

3-5 yrs
- 2 hours , I would say 1 hour . non violent shows on tv only . Devices not allowed , because they can't be close to radiation . 

I know a woman she used to hang her phone on her, she got cancer in that place. They are young for only few years enjoy this time. Involve them with you in kitchen. Take them with you to supermarket, park, and library. Then you will see them come to you to do crafts, to talk to you, do Quran with you. Develop a strong relationship. Put them to watch the tv, shows like Caillou, just for the short time you need to do your work. Schedule this time.

6-12 yrs
- 2 hrs tv only. Devices not allowed. Including the Hw.

13-18
- 2 hrs  Tv , devices (30 min video game ), live games global not allowed it has all bad words swears. The heart gets affected. They will have a hard time listening to Quran . 

- They can't change overnight . But put one year goal. We have a challenge . But it is not love to give these devices to our kids. 

- Adults - what allowed? Let's put ourselves that we are 18 and put a limit of 2 hours. We have to be a role model. The way you talk to yourself to discipline yourself, will be the words you use with your children. If we don't work on ourselves we will be like a 5 yr old. We are talking about how you use it in your free time. And that if you are doing work/school on the computer, do not have other distractions open like facebook and email that will make your work take longer.

Homework - Action items:
- Find games that build creativity. Like books, games, puzzles, toys that are specifically made for creativity. 

- Hide your phone from your young kids

- Make a decision to reduce device time 

- Research age appropriate activities as a substitute