Speaking on American Family Radio, Dr. Jessica Peck discussed the overwhelming amount of time children spend using screens, and she explained that parents sometimes contribute to what she is calling the fundamental takedown of childhood.
Dr. Peck began by describing what is called digital soothing.
"That's where we give our kids – at a restaurant or whatever – we give them a tablet, any time there's any uncomfortable emotion,” Dr. Peck informs. “We see kids who are sitting for hours and hours who are having heart disease similar to forty-year-olds. We're seeing an overweight epidemic just because of the lack of activity, not going outside. We see a decrease in free play time.”
She went on to explain how she believes parents can help their children not be dependent on screens, saying that parents help by developing healthy relationships with their children.
"I'm really trying to help parents to realize we can't be the screen police; we really have to be the heart police and remember that police are there to protect and to serve. We can't just take, obsess about screen time and just take it away,” Dr. Peck says.
Parents need to provide their children with a compelling alternative, she stated.
“The only thing that the world is not providing as a counterfeit is real authentic relationships. God designed kids to want a relationship with their parents, and that is where we need to step in and fill in the gap,” Dr. Peck advises.
For parents who may struggle with their own screen time management, Dr. Peck offered an encouragement.
"I think the first think to do is to give yourself grace and space to be human. Recognize that it's a problem, ask the Lord to help you, and the best thing to do is to have your kids hold you accountable," says Dr. Peck.
