An Answer For Increasing Screen Time for Kids

Let’s face it. We are living in a digital world. Even prior to 2020, the direction the world was moving in was clear. And for parents, this has been a longtime concern. People hate to see their little ones with their eyes glued to their screens all day long. And before, parents could do things like limit time on devices or set up a playdate with friends. But now, in a world that seemed to get so much bigger, sometimes the only time kids can spend with their friends is online. Even school has become virtual. Whether partially for some, or entirely for others, kids are now being forced to use screens for education now. And parents are becoming concerned. They can no longer just take the tablet or computer from their little ones, as it may impede their education. But all this added screen time can have negative effects on the health of developing kids.

All digital devices emit a harmful artificial blue light. But what is blue light? Simply put, blue light is part of the visible light spectrum, and is naturally emitted from the sun. Our bodies use it to regulate sleep cycles which is known as “circadian rhythm”. And coming from natural sources and small doses it is usually okay.

But the problem arises from the massive amount of artificial blue light emitted from device screens. This type of blue light is not natural for our eyes and is a higher energy portion of the light spectrum, which means it penetrates the eyes much easier. It can cause harm to our vision and health, including: eye strain, headaches, difficulty focusing, brain fog, and in some extreme cases, damage to eyes.

Ever get headaches, eyestrain, or brain fog after staring at your phone or computer screen? This is caused by exposure to artificial blue light from these device screens.

And this is especially serious for kids. According to a study by the National Eye Institute, children's eyes are even more sensitive to blue light than adults. Before age 10, children’s eyes are not yet fully developed… leaving their eyes vulnerable to damage from blue light.

Blue light has also been found to suppress the production of melatonin, a sleep hormone, leaving children overstimulated, resulting in difficulty falling asleep and a decline in overall sleep quality.

But what can parents do about this? In today’s world, as we’ve already discussed, it’s not plausible to completely disallow kids from using screens.

One solution, that we have found particularly useful, is blue light blocking glasses. These glasses, usually non-prescription, help filter some of the harmful blue light our devices emit. They are much more effective at filtering blue light than the blue light setting on our devices. I have a pair on my desk right now as I’m writing this! And companies everywhere are selling these for adults. But what about for kids? Only a few companies actually sell these glasses for kids.

Enter BlueBlock™ Kids. This company, founded in Virginia Beach, VA here in the United States, specializes in providing both young kids and teens the proper blue light blocking glasses. They have sold thousands, they offer donation matches to schools, and they are owned and operated by two long-time best friends. They are a true small business with excellent customer service and the best selection on the market. And they are super affordable. I have purchased from them for myself and my friends’ kids.

I hope this helps you and your kiddos have some peace of mind in an uncertain time.