Heidelberg youths stare at screens for double the advised time
Heidelberg young people are spending double the World Health Organisation’s recommended time on electronic devices. An optometrist warns of the dangers to children's eyes and urges change.
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Children in Heidelberg are looking at their screens more than twice the time recommended by the World Health Organisation.
A study conducted by YouGov Galaxy for Specsavers in 2019 shows 15 per cent of Heidelberg children aged 13 to 17 spend almost four hours staring at screens.
This is drastically higher than the average Victorian child, who according to the study, spend an average of 2.5 hours on screen time daily.
The current recommended amount of screen time is no more than two hours.
Heidelberg optometrist Angela Chung said extended screen time can increase the risk of myopia or becoming short sighted.
“Children are more at risk of this as their eyes are still developing,” Ms Chung said.
The study found that 56 per cent of Victorian parents were concerned screen time was negatively impacting their children’s health.
“The biggest message I would like to get across to parents is to make sure their children spend time outside playing,” Ms Chung said.
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“Anything from running around the garden to helping mum and dad with errands could have a huge benefit for the eyes.”
Children as young as four are spending two hours a day looking at screens.
Ms Chung said the real problem with screen time was the near vision work, which strains the eye.
Children are spending 66 per cent of screen time in the lounge room and 42 per cent in the bedroom.
When at school or day care, children spent only 19 per cent of their time looking at screens.
courtney.beaumont@news.com.au