David T. Tayloe, Jr., MD, FAAP
April 30-May 6 was designated "Screen-Free Week." At this time, adults are spending so much time with smart phones, i-Pads, computers, and televisions (screens) that many of our children are failing to experience normal language development. And if children are not able to talk and read effectively by third grade, they are likely to drop out of school and never become real contributors to our economy.
We have put a man on the moon, transplanted human hearts, and can communicate instantly with people all over the globe. But we cannot raise healthy, productive children! What is going on?
Pediatricians are trying to do something about the facts that 35% of five-year-olds do not have age-appropriate language skills, one-third of third grade students are not reading at grade level, and over 25% of students do not graduate from high school. In our pediatric practice, our professional staff communicate with parents in competition with cell phone, i-Pad, and video game activity in the exam room. I think our experience explains a lot about what is causing lousy child outcomes. And if we have lousy child outcomes, we will have an inept work force, and our economy will never reach its full potential.
Many adults are so wrapped up in their smart phones, i-Pads, computers, video games, and televisions that they are not providing babies and young children with the face-to-face talking time they need to achieve optimal language development. Plus, American children average about 7 hours of screen time each day. This means that adults are not spending enough time interacting with their children, causing many children to have delays in language development and failure to achieve optimal third grade reading skills. Third grade reading performance determines high school graduation rates.
All this fits together, and the trends are really alarming.
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More than 14 million children and adolescents in the United States, or 1 in 5, have a diagnosable mental health disorder that requires intervention or monitoring and interferes with daily functioning.¹ While many children with mental health disorders are not being diagnosed, primary care clinicians have been identifying children with emotional and behavioral disorders at an increasing rate. The need for primary care clinicians to manage children with mental health concerns only will continue to increase in the future. Primary care clinicians are, and will continue to be, an important first resource for parents who are worried about their child's behavioral problems.
