Childhood experts are encouraging parents to swap their kids’ screen time for green time.
Deakin University is undertaking world-first research, investigating how nature can help reduce difficult child behaviours associated with screen use.
PhD researcher Marina Torjinski said nature can work wonders for child development.
Torjinski said they hoped to understand whether time in natural environments had the potential to offset the screen-related problems parents often experience with their children.
She said the research showed family experiences in nature also promoted positive parent-child interactions.
“We reviewed the existing research looking at children’s screen use and engagement with nature within the family context and found that positive family experiences around nature can help shift children’s intentions away from indoor screen-based activities,” Torjinski said.
“On an individual level, where problematic screen use can lead to increases in stress, cognitive fatigue and behavioural problems in children, time spent in natural environments can reduce levels of physical and psychological stress, improve cognitive processes, mood, and help children regulate their emotional states and behaviours.
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“It appears that excessive screen use and time in nature influence the parent-child relationship in opposite ways, however more research is needed to understand this process.”
Melbourne mum Dionne Holland and daughter Chloe, eight, have joined the study and believe it should be a fine balance.
”It’s a real tricky one because iPads have their place. There are times that I need her to be on the screen when I’m trying to juggle with work,” she said.
“I really try and consciously get outside, a walk, playground, anywhere really.”
She said when they do get outside, it’s often hard to get her daughter back inside.
“Sometimes it’s a struggle to get her off the iPad, but once we are out we struggle to get back, especially if she is exploring,” Holland said.
The survey will look at how children’s screen use and engagement with nature interact with family dynamics.
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