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Time was when parents were told that books are bad for character development.
After a few generations, it became radio, then T.V. Now we hear that any digital media use is bad for developing brains. How much of this is backed by research? Is all media equal?
At Open Arms Wellness we have several therapists who concentrate on the mental health of children's and teen. Clearly, in our digital age , not all digital media is bad. What parents need to concentrate on is what kids are doing with their digital time. Especially in younger children it is important that the digital can be monitored. Parents need to be aware of this part of their children's live. What do they watch on Youtube? Do they click into tic-tok?
Pandemic's impact on teen mental health
Surprisingly, in the age of the pandemic, screen time can be beneficial to tween and teen social health. A recent study found that children who use screens to interact with peers may even be happier.
Many of our youth spend time on instagram and tic-tok.
These are curated examples of other people lives. As adults we are more aware of the filtered nature of on line content. Children and teens may feel like they don't stack up to these filtered images. In the teen world already obsessed with appearance, these carefully choreographed images can leave our teens feeling like they just don't measure up.
Our expert therapists at Open Arms suggest decreasing or ceasing the use of instagram and tic-tok while monitoring other forms of media like facebook and youtube. They also suggest talking with tweens and teens about what is appropriate and what is not as far as both content, peer interaction online and hours of use.
Begin teen therapy in St. Louis, MO
Teen therapy can be the step your teen needs to find the balance they need. Our teen therapists can offer in-person therapy at our St. Louis based counseling practice, or through online therapy in Kansas City or St. Louis. When you're ready to begin teen therapy in St. Louis, MO, follow these steps:
Schedule an appointment with us.
Get to know our team of teen therapists.
Help your teen improve their mental health.
Call us at (314) 329-4326 for a free pre-consult!