Children nowadays are growing up with technology as being “normal.” They cannot remember a time when it was not part of the fabric of their daily routines and connections.
They are part of an enormous un-tested physical and social experiment that has never before had such a far-reaching, worldwide impact.
Electronics are having a profound effect on the physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being of our youth.
The stakes are high. incalculable. We don’t really know how this is going to turn out. But it’s not looking good.
Is There Anything We Can Do?
Yes. There are many practical solutions. Steps you can take right now.Habits that can begin to reduce the dangerous levels of exposure your children are getting from the ubiquitous presence of both wired and wireless technology.
Let’s face it. We are not going to give up our electronic devices. They are here to stay. They provide many useful benefits. And you would be hard-pressed to expect a 14-year old to throw the cell phone, tablet, laptop, etc. out the window.
Still, there are many hidden hazards associated with electronics that should be taken very, very seriously.
So, let’s learn how to use these devices in a safer manner than we are currently doing.
But first,
Why Is This So Urgent?
Your Child is in Physical Danger
Picture for a minute, your child or teen
- Walking with their cell phone pressed up to their head,
- Standing, texting, holding the phone an inch away from their sternum,
- Sitting with a laptop or tablet next to vital organs,
- For hours and hours, every day, and into the night.
Is there any part of your child’s body you would not want to protect from radiation?
Clear Evidence Of Cancer
The landmark study from the National Toxicology Program of the US Department of Health and Human Services concluded that there is “clear evidence” that radiation from mobile phones causes cancer [1,2].
To date, there are over 5,000 scientific, peer reviewed research projects showing strong correlation between electromagnetic radiation and a host of diseases and disorders including:
- brain tumors,
- neurological disorders,
- childhood leukemia,
- ADD/ADHD,
- and autism.
Sadly, the list is actually much, much longer. [3]
The young are particularly vulnerable to the ravages of this invisible electromagnetic radiation.
Think about their
• tiny bodies,
• thin skulls,
• and developing brains.
It’s not hard to understand that the radiation emitted from digital devices penetrates deeply into the brain and other organs of a child, with an absorption rate twice that of an adult [4].
And, let’s not forget the potential harm to the pre-born child in the womb of a mother who constantly places electronic devices on her lap [5,6]. Or who, during pregnancy, lives in a location where high magnetic fields are measured [7].
And that’s just the assault on our physical bodies.
Regrettably, it is wreaking havoc on the mental and emotional development of our children and young people as well.
Technology is Altering the Mental, Emotional, and Social Landscape of our Youth
“Look how smart my child is. She can maneuver the internet better than I can.”
Not so fast. There’s a different and dark side to this story that should give you pause.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has long been advising against kids’ excessive use of screens as well as exposure to all wireless radiation-emitting devices.
There’s plenty of research that suggests that the more children use technology, the more likely they will be harmed behaviorally, educationally, emotionally, mentally, physically, psychically, and spiritually.
Check out these disturbing articles:
And don’t underestimate your own powers of observation. Just look around you at the young children who are bent over their electronic devices and ask yourself – Where is the language development and eye contact? Where are the subtle emotional cues of an interactive live conversation…and the rich give-and-take rhythms of communication?
“But My Child Plays Educational Games”
The “gamification” of education is not living up to its promises. While there may be limited value in some “educational games,” I wouldn’t put too much stock in them.
Electronic educational technologies have not resulted in better academic achievement globally. Technology is good for industry money. Questionable for learning [13,14].
Let’s compare what happens when your child watches a story on a tablet versus when he or she reads a book or is read to.
Books require the child to construct a mental and emotional image of the setting, characters, the tone, and the unfolding plot. The sights and sounds of the story are created in his mind. This is an important cognitive process for language and creative development [15].
The tech-story bypasses this crucial creative translation and spoon-feeds images and sounds instantaneously.
No need to imagine,
to create,
to wonder.
The screen does that for your child.
A Lifetime of Consequences
Chilling words from Dr. Liraz Margalit in her article: “What Screen Time Can Really Do to Kids’ Brains: Too much at the worst possible age can have lifetime consequences [16].”
Pause. Let that sink in.
Does Your Teen Have CRS?
C.R.S. – Can’t Remember Stuff.
A study engaging nearly 700 Swiss teens showed significant memory loss linked to time spent on electronic devices [17].
Memories – Poof – Zap – Gone.
And, the link between digital dosing and ADD/ADHD is clear. The more teens check social media and stream video, the more likely they are to develop symptoms of attention disorder [18].
The brain was not intended for constant interruptive stimulation such as a teen experiences when switching back and forth between screens – text, phone call, Facebook, Instagram, text, Twitter, You Tube, now Google, more texting, back to Instagram, back to texting, gotta catch this call – all within a couple minutes.
Toggle-toggle,
flit-flit,
swipe-scroll.
Repeat. All day, every day, into the night.
It’s no wonder that many of our young people are losing the ability for linear, sustained thought.
And digital addiction is a growing plague. The persuasive design of apps is intentional and effective. And the variable ratio reward system that is mined into video games is designed to stimulate and produce a dopamine hit to the brain, not unlike that of heroin or cocaine [19].
Of course digital devices can be addicting. Why wouldn’t they be?
The symptoms include extreme anxiety upon separation from technology, depression, insomnia, and other psychological disruptions. Digital detox programs are sometimes necessary to bring child addicts back to the point where they can function.
Take the Quiz – Electronic Screen Syndrome (ESS)
Dr. Victoria Dunkley has been an outspoken harbinger of the disastrous effects of technology on the psyche of children. She calls it Electronic Screen Syndrome. ESS is marked by hyper-arousal, or being “revved up,” and an inability to regulate emotions and stress levels.
Answer 25 questions to determine to what degree your child may be affected by digital devices. (Follow the link below.)
We Can’t Just, “Un-Plug.” So, What Can We Do?
We cannot escape the growing presence of EMF exposure. And it would be difficult to function in our modern world without technology. But we can develop some habits and boundaries that will greatly reduce the exposure to harmful radiation and the effects of tech overload on our children.
What to do? These are Brilliant Resources!
• The
American Academy of Pediatrics has developed a Family Media Use Plan. They provide guidelines for different age groups and an online template to bring balance to the family’s use of electronics. Oddly, they use technology to solve a technology problem. But it works. And kids can be part of the solution.
• The
ElectricSense website has two categories on the menu bar that would be particularly helpful; Cell Phone Radiation and EMFs in Your Life. Take a look. They include valuable, up-to-date information on EMFs in schools and the effects on youth. Arm your kids with cutting-edge truth and practical solutions.
• The
Environmental Health Trust is a wealth of both scientific knowledge and practical resources for families. The Take Action category has many high-interest social media graphics and political action steps that have high teen-appeal. Get your kids on this site:
•
Parents for Safe Technology is a super family-friendly site with many resources including what various countries are doing around the world to create safe school environments. Make this site part of your child’s next school report on a country.
Get your children involved in the research and in the process of achieving iBalance.
Does your teen like science? Turn them on to the scientific evidence of the dangers of electromagnetic radiation.
Is your teen drawn to drama and conspiracy? Let them research the cover-up of the hazards of electro-smog.
Is your teen an aspiring activist? Encourage positive steps to bring change to school policies.
It might not be easy, especially at first. But it will be worth it.
Children may not be 100% of our population, but they are 100% of our future!
Start With What You Can Do Right Now – Baby Steps, Baby Steps
1. Move your charging stations out of the bedrooms.
2. Remove all electronics from the dinner table and the bedrooms.
3. Turn off your router / WiFi at night.
4. Use speaker phone whenever possible.
5. When carrying your cell phone on your body, turn Airplane ON and Bluetooth and WiFi OFF. This is the only safe way to carry a cell phone. (Note – You will not receive messages in this mode, so remember to reverse this when you are no longer carrying your phone on your body.)
6. Involve your children in researching the best ways to gain control of radiation exposure and electronic device intrusion using the resources listed above.
7. Let your children know that this is important to you and to their safety and health – and that you are not eliminating technology; but learning to master it.
8. Get input from your children and agree on more low-tech family fun – hiking, biking, cooking, board games, concerts, travel, etc.
9. Propose to your teens that not being available via electronics 24/7 might be a cool thing, adding a certain, “mystique,” or “independence” to their social media persona.
10. If you suspect serious digital addiction, you may want to seek professional help.
11. Read, read, read to your young children.
12. Ramp up physical touch, hugs, conversations with intentional eye contact.
There Is A Lot More To This Story
Our children are “guinea pigs” in this huge, un-tested, highly-lucrative experiment. There is a lot more to this story. But you have the resources to search out the truth. And to begin to lower exposure to harmful electromagnetic radiation and the tech overload that harms the precious and irreplaceable bodies and souls of our children.
Begin today. And may God have mercy on our children.
Many thanks to Lois Cadwallader for this guest post.
Author bio: Lois Cadwallader, MA, has been a professional educator all her life. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada and enjoys volunteering in after-school clubs, hiking and cycling. She is the co-author of Exposed: The Electronic Sickening of America and How to Protect Yourself.
References:
1. National Toxicology Program. “Cell Phone Radio Frequency Radiation,” from the rat and mouse studies, November, 2018. Retrieved from https://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsroom/releases/2018/november1/index.cfm
2. Environmental Health Trust. “Clear Evidence Of Cancer Concludes U.S. National Toxicology Program Expert Panel On Cell Phone Radiation,” March 2018 Retrieved from https://ehtrust.org/clear-evidence-of-cancer-concludes-the-expert-panel-to-the-us-national-toxicology-program-on-cell-phone-radiation-study-findings/
3. Sage, C. (Ed.) BioInitiative 2012 – A Rationale for a Biologically-based Public Exposure Standard for Electromagnetic Fields (ELF and RF). Rensselaer, NY: University at Albany, 2012. Retrieved from https://bioinitiative.org/
4. ElectricSense. “Cell Phones and Cancer – Evidence is Clear Children are More at Risk” Retrieved from https://www.electricsense.com/11043/cell-phones-cancer-children/
5. Sage, C., Burgio, E. “Electromagnetic Fields, Pulsed Radiofrequency Radiation, and Epigenetics: How Wireless Technologies May Affect Childhood Development,” Child Development January/February 2018, Volume 89, Number 1, Pages 129–136 Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cdev.12824
6. Williams PM, Fletcher S. “Health Effects of Prenatal Radiation Exposure,” Am Fam Physician [Internet]. 2010 [cited 2017 Dec 26]; 82: 488–93. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20822083
7. Li, Di-Kun, et al. “Exposure to Magnetic Field Non-Ionizing Radiation and the Risk of Miscarriage: A Prospective Cohort Study,” Scientific Reports volume 7, Article number: 17541 (2017); doi:10.1038/s41598-017-16623-8. Retrieved from https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-16623-8
8. Frank, B.N. “Toddlers and Screens: More Than 1 Hour a Day Can Cause Developmental Delays and Have Lasting Effects on Attention, Language, Memory, Social and Motor Skill,” January 2019. Retrieved from https://lightonconspiracies.com/toddlers-and-screens
9. Park, Alice. “Too Much Screen Time Can Have Lasting Consequences for Young Children’s Brains Article by Alice Park,” January 2019. Retrieved from http://time.com/5514539/screen-time-children-brain/
10.Rapaport,Lisa. “Too much toddler screen time tied to worse social, motor skills by kindergarten,” January 2019. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-kids-screen-time/too-much-toddler-screen-time-tied-to-worse-social-motor-skills-by-kindergarten-idUSKCN1PM2JS
11.“Excessive Screen Time for Kids Can Cause Developmental Delays by Kindergarten,” Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health-news/does-screen-time-cause-developmental-delays-in-young-children
12.Madigan, Sheri PhD, et al. “Association Between Screen Time and Children’s Performance on a Developmental Screening Test,” JAMA January 2019. Retrieved from https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2722666
13.Sage, C., Burgio, E. “Electromagnetic Fields, Pulsed Radiofrequency Radiation, and Epigenetics: How Wireless Technologies May Affect Childhood Development,” Child Development January/February 2018, Volume 89, Number 1, Pages 129–136 Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cdev.12824
14.Environmental Health Trust. Schools Worldwide Removing the Wi-Fi and Reducing Exposure. Retrieved from https://ehtrust.org/schools-worldwide-removing-wifi-reducing-exposure/
15.Blackmore, Caroline, Weston, Barbara. Every Word Counts. 2016 http://www.readtoyourbaby.com/
16.Margalit, Liraz, PhD. “What Screen Time Can Really Do to Kids’ Brains: Too much at the worst possible age can have lifetime consequences,” Psychology Today, April 17 2016. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/behind-online-behavior/201604/what-screen-time-can-really-do-kids-brains
17.Foerster, Milena, et al. “A Prospective Cohort Study of Adolescents’ Memory Performance and Individual Brain Dose of Microwave Radiation from Wireless Communication.” Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute in Basel, Switzerland. July 2018. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP2427
18.Ra, Chaelin K., MPH, Cho, Junhan, PhD. “Association of Digital Media Use With Subsequent Symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Among Adolescents.” JAMA 2018;320(3):255-263. July 2018. Retrieved from https://apsard.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/ADHD-digital-media-jama_Ra_2018_oi_180072.pdf
19.Huddleston, Brad. Digital Cocaine: A Journey Toward iBalance [eBook], Christian Art Publishers, 2016.
