Beyond the screen: Encouraging active play for children in the digital age 

Michael Mwangi, a father of three, had always maintained a firm rule about phone usage with his children. He allowed them to use his phone only on special occasions like birthdays and holidays. This approach worked well for his older children, who are now in Form 4. However, with his youngest, things aren't going as smoothly.

“There was a time when my daughters were pushing me to buy them phones. I stood firm in my decision, knowing the potential impact it could have.

"I had seen how other parents struggled with their children's phone usage and wanted mine to stay focused. However, my youngest has already developed a strong attachment to screens. He prefers scrolling through the phone to playing outside, and it worries me how easily he got hooked," Mwangi says.

Mwangi has noticed that the moment he comes home from work, the first thing that greets him is his youngest son snatching his phone. As soon as it is in his hands, the scrolling begins. He's surprisingly skilled at navigating the device and knows exactly what he wants to see.

The father feels a sense of helplessness, unsure how to break this attachment and get his son to engage with the world around him instead of being glued to the screen.

Prevent tantrums

Like Mwangi, Farida Moraa, a mother of a seven-year-old daughter, struggles to get her child to focus on homework. As a working mother, she initially started giving her daughter the phone as a way to entertain her and prevent tantrums.

"As a mother, sometimes you just need some quiet time to get things done around the house. When she was a baby, that strategy worked well, and I honestly saw a lot of improvement — she developed her speech quickly. But once she started school, everything changed," Moraa says.

Moraa has noticed that her daughter barely concentrates on her homework because her mind is consumed with using the phone or watching television. When the devices are taken away, her daughter becomes moody for extended periods, which deeply worries the mother.

"I honestly don't know how to find a balance and keep my child engaged. I feel like I'm the one who got her hooked in the first place. When she does her homework, she rushes through it just to get back to playing on her phone or gaming. It's like her mind always needs to be occupied."

Research indicates that school age is a period of significant physical and mental development for children.

Nowadays, both children and adults are heavily engaged with electronic devices. This digital addiction negatively impacts students' performance in the classroom. Notably, boys show a higher rate of gadget addiction, with 66.3 per cent affected.

James Njuguna, a teacher in Eastleigh, has noticed that many children are becoming overly reliant on smartphones, even using them to complete their assignments. This dependency is negatively affecting their academic performance.

"We're seeing a situation where children no longer bring their assignments home because they're too caught up in games, series, and movies. For some, it's turning into an addiction," he explains.

He has observed that this trend interferes with students' understanding of their subjects, leading many parents to express concern about their children's lack of productivity at home.

Njuguna points out that staying up late playing video games or binge-watching shows prevents students from engaging in active learning.

Hurts creativity

"This seriously affects their ability to learn. While gadgets can be useful when used wisely, unlimited screen time is significantly impacting students' performance. When asked to do something active, they often can't handle it and end up dozing off. This cycle continues at home and hurts their creativity."

He stresses the need for balance, urging both teachers and parents to set limits on screen time. He notes that students have become so accustomed to passive activities that they struggle with physical tasks.

He recommends limiting screen time to between 20 minutes and one hour a day, with the remaining time dedicated to physical activities and learning experiences to enhance creativity and concentration. He has even noticed that during computer lessons, many students get easily distracted and rarely stay focused on one task unless closely supervised, which is concerning.

According to Micah Kibera, a clinical nutritionist in Nairobi, a lack of physical activity and excessive screen time expose children to diseases such as diabetes and obesity, which can be detrimental to their health. He emphasises the importance of children engaging in outdoor activities to promote better health.

Being overweight and obese results from an imbalance between energy intake (diet) and energy expenditure (physical activity). Obesity, characterised by excessive fat accumulation, is a chronic and complex disease that can severely impair health. It increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers, and can negatively affect bone health, reproduction, and overall quality of life, including sleep and mobility.

Kibera has observed a rise in diabetes cases among children and adolescents in the country.

"It's only a matter of time before we see even younger cases, which will present significant challenges," he warns.

He notes that obesity can lead to various health issues, including structural problems like arthritis, sleep apnea, snoring, and poor muscle recovery due to insufficient sleep, all of which tend to worsen with weight gain. Overweight children often face frequent hunger and mood swings.

The National Resource Centre for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education recommends the following guidelines:

- Screen time for young children: Children aged two and younger should not use screen time in early care and education settings. For children aged two to five, screen time should be limited to one hour per day of high-quality programming, viewed with an adult to help them connect what they learn to the real world.

- Older children: For children aged five and older, digital media may be used for homework, but entertainment media should not replace healthy activities such as exercise, sleep, and family time.

- Meal and rest times: Digital media should not be used during meal/snack times, nap/rest times, or in bed. Devices should be turned off at least one hour before bedtime.

- Content quality: When digital media is offered, it should be free of advertising, violence, and overly tempting sounds.

- Communication with parents: Caregivers should communicate their media use guidelines with parents, taking these into account when planning media use in childcare programs.

- Promoting physical activity: Programmes should prioritise physical activity and social interactions, as excessive media use can distract children, limit social engagement, and contribute to obesity. Background media should be minimized to enhance focus and interaction.

- Behavioural considerations: Overuse of media can lead to behavioural issues; therefore, caregivers should avoid using media as a tool to calm children.