Raising Healthy Children in a Digital World: A Parent's Responsibility

Many parents today are raising children in an environment unlike any generation before. Digital screens are no longer an occasional tool. For many young children and adolescents, screens have become a constant companion-at home, in the car, at restaurants, at family gatherings, and even while walking from place to place. Too often, our children are not simply using technology. They are living inside it.

As a community, we must acknowledge what we are seeing with clarity: many children appear glued to phones, tablets, and gaming systems for hours each day. In many cases, parents may not realize what content their children are consuming, what conversations they are being drawn into, or what influences are shaping their thinking. Much of this media use is unmonitored, unmediated, and unrestricted-placing children at risk emotionally, physically, and socially.

The dangers are not only theoretical. Predators frequently use the internet to gain access to children, especially those left unsupervised or home alone. Parents must recognize that privacy settings are not protection, and "kid-friendly" platforms do not eliminate risk. Responsible parenting now requires digital vigilance. Setting strong parental controls, monitoring browsing and app use, limiting screen time, and maintaining open communication are no longer optional. They are essential safeguards.

The impact of excessive screen exposure also reaches children's health and development. Too much screen time is linked to eye strain, poor posture, and lack of sleep. A sedentary lifestyle-common among children who spend extended hours on devices-contributes to long-term health problems and weaker physical coordination. Many young people are missing the basic daily movement that strengthens their bodies: running, playing, stretching, and building stamina.

We are also witnessing a decline in social skills. Children who remain immersed in virtual content often avoid eye contact, struggle to greet adults respectfully, and fail to observe their surroundings. Even in public settings, where manners and conversation should be learned, many children remain focused on a screen. A restaurant table becomes no different from a doctor's office waiting room, because their attention remains fixed on the same digital world. Older children can become so detached that they struggle to hold difficult conversations, relying instead on texting to avoid real dialogue.

Parents deserve support, not judgment. Yet children deserve leadership. The temporary quiet that comes from handing a child a device does not outweigh the long-term consequences of unchecked screen use. Setting firm limits is an act of love and protection. Even one hour per day can be excessive if that hour replaces movement, conversation, and real-life learning.

We must raise children who are healthy, engaged, resilient, and prepared for life beyond a screen. That begins at home-with parents who lead intentionally.