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Is Your Child Experiencing Still Face Syndrome?

Photo from Bruce Mars via Unsplash

Is Your Child Experiencing Still Face Syndrome?

By Movieguide® Contributor

Is your child experiencing Still Face Syndrome? Here’s what you need to know.

“There’s an alarming new warning for parents with young kids using digital devices,” a video from 7NEWS Australia explained. “New research has exposed children who spend too much time on screens are being left behind developmentally with many not learning properly to use their facial expressions. It’s called Still Face Syndrome. Parents are being urged to make sure their young children get plenty of face-to-face interactions, especially early on in their development.”

Still Face Syndrome, a term that originated with the Still Face experiment which “showed how a parent’s visual reaction can impact a baby’s emotional development,” is now “being used to describe children who are showing fewer facial expressions and emotional responses — an effect some experts attribute to excessive screen time,” Khaleej Times reported.

Dr. Puneet Wadhwa, a pediatrician at Prime Medical Hospital, said Still Face Syndrome is when children show “less engagement and responsiveness to real-life social cues, likely due to too much time spent in front of screens.”

“Children’s brains develop in response to their environment. Without enough real-world interaction, their ability to recognise emotions, maintain eye contact, or engage in social behaviour may be affected,” Dr. Wadhwa continued.

A neurologist at Medcare Hospital, Dr. Ahmed Ebied, echoed Dr. Wadhwa, saying, “Children who spend too much time on screens, especially during crucial developmental stages, may show delays in social and emotional skills. This includes reduced empathy, difficulty in recognizing emotions, and even behavioral issues.”

If your child is suffering from Still Face Syndrome, the best way to resolve it is to cut back their screen time and focus on “physical play and real-world interactions.”

Movieguide® reported on how you can do that:

  1. Set Screen Time Limits: Establish clear and consistent screen time limits for different activities, such as TV, video games, and social media. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children aged 2 to 5 years should have no more than one hour of high-quality screen time per day, and children under 18 months should avoid screen time altogether.
  2. Create Screen-Free Zones: Designate specific areas in your home, such as the dining room or bedrooms, where screens are not allowed. This helps prevent screens from intruding on family time and sleep.
  3. Be a Role Model: Children often emulate the behavior of adults. If you want your child to spend less time on screens, be a positive role model by reducing your own screen time and engaging in non-screen activities.
  4. Provide Alternative Activities: Encourage your child to engage in alternative activities like reading, outdoor play, creative arts and crafts, or board games. Make these activities readily available and appealing.
  5. Plan Screen Time: Instead of allowing unrestricted screen access, plan screen time as a part of your child’s daily routine. Set specific times for screen use, such as after homework or chores are completed.

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