Summertime and children… A new epidemic looms

Summertime and children… a new epidemic looms 

By: Lisa Mathis MSN, FNP-BC

Summertime, school is out and everyone looks forward to fun and sun! The days get longer, hot summer sun shines down, pools beckon cool and refreshing, and vacations are scheduled. However, beyond typical summertime reminder to use sunscreen, bug spray, and water safety - more than the fear of spider or tick bites, be stings, and poison ivy... a new health risk looms with significant consequence and the health effects can last a lifetime. 

This topic can be difficult to approach, particularly if we sense parents are not going to receive the education well.  We are good at educating about drugs and alcohol, safe sex and sunscreen but the topics are easy to give as parents often agree. But this health risk, lurking in the darkness, can affect parents and guardians as well. 

Excessive screen time is becoming an epidemic for pediatric patients. Before computers, iPhones, and video games, the summer was spent outside running, playing, getting dirty, climbing trees and forging physical adventures outdoors. Now with the ease of giving kids screen time to keep them occupied and know where they are parental stress may be eased.  But screen time has unwanted and significant ramifications for children, bringing provider obligation in education.  

Excessive screen time affects emotional growth, mental health- primarily anxiety and depression, and physical health issues such as correlation with obesity, and sleep disorders including a rise in the likelihood of obesity. Screen time can obstruct ability to interpret emotions, fuel aggressive conduct, and harm psychological health.(1) Use of electronic devices coupled with isolation of the pandemic is having lasting effects on adolescents in particular. While electronic devices have revolutionized learning, communication, and information dissemination, recent research indicates screen media use may have serious adverse effects on children's health over the long term, making this a pressing public health concern.(2) Specific areas of developmental concern include: Cognitive, language and social-emotional development.  

Steps for Providers: Use routine well child visits as an opportunity to include screen time in discussions of summer plans, summer plans and make suggestions. Even summer and spring sick visits and camp physicals are a great time to bring up screen time discussions. Encouraging continued limiting screen time, standard bedtimes, outdoor activities, and family activities to improve communication with others and fun while emphasizing health. Keep pamphlets on local camps or team activities from local recreation departments.   Educate parents about their own risks with screen time and encourage family game nights where not even parents or guardians have access to their phone. In examples of great education on this topic one pediatric office gives out free camp days, one pediatric nurse practitioner gave out board games for her patients. 

Let parents know both the AAP and AACAP note children learn through observation, mimicking, and adopting behaviors — a basic principle of social learning theory. These organizations express concern with exposure to aggressive behavior or violence in video games and other media may, over time, desensitize youths by numbing them emotionally, causing nightmares and sleep issues, impair school performance, and lead to aggressive behavior and/or bullying.(3) 

As AAPs do well, we educate without judgement and provide solutions and options, examples and even give some incentives.  Observing withdrawal of the child or parent in the exam room into their phone can be an excellent opportunity to engage first in what activities they like to do in summer and then engage in preventive health education. Loves like drawing, art, music, etc. can enhance great summer camp information.   

As technology advancement continues, APPs must be proactive in educating on health issues and health promotion. I challenge you to do more research and educate yourself as well as your pediatric families about this significant health issue that facing our children.  The joy and health benefits from outdoor activity is irreplaceable and long lasting.  

“ I have students  that have no idea how to ride a bike, play with a group outside and lack basic social skills in middle school.”  Paula Farmer , Curriculum specialist NC 

Ideas: -Advertise in office local ball teams and group sports 

                -Create gift baskets, include sunscreen, bug spray and an outdoor game 

                -Promote and possibly sponsor some children to attend a camp 

                - Visit local schools and encourage summer fun ideas. 

Be creative and don’t back down! 

Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink in the wild air’s salubrity. --- Ralph Waldo Emerson 

1-https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10353947/ 

2-https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedhc.2021.06.003 

3-https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/violent-video-games-and-young-people.