Virtual Autism: What is it and how can it be controlled?

For some, technology is a big part of our lives. Since COVID, so much has changed where being on a screen to learn, talk and play was the norm. Now, transitioning off and go back to every day tasks has been a challenge for some. Having the internet in the palm of our hands, getting engulfed in tablets, computers, gaming consoles etc. can do more damage than you think, especially if not properly monitored. Managing it can be very challenging as children crave it, “need” it and struggle when they are not on it.

According to a study conducted by Marius Theodore Zamfir, a clinical psychologist from Spiru Haret University in Romania, young children (4-6 months old) were exposed to 4-6 hours of screen time a day. By 6 months, the parents were starting to recognize their children’s behaviors increase: not hearing, not recognizing their parents voices, demonstrated repetitive behaviors and just seem to be in their own little bubble. Once the screens were taken away 100%, parents noticed rapid changes in their behaviors.

Not only do we need to limit the time spent on it but it is vital that we are being mindful of what they are watching and what we are doing before and after to help them regulate their nervous systems so these behaviors do not get worse.


HOW is this affecting your child’s development?

According to A Comprehensive Guide to Virtual Autism on Solicitude Parenting’s website by Ritu Jain, if children are over exposed to screens more than 2 hours PER DAY it can affect:

  • brain development

  • overall health

  • attention span/processing/hyperactivity

  • irritability/mood swings

  • aggression

  • sleep

  • social cues and interactions

  • speech delays

  • lack of interest in play

These behaviors are similar to symptoms seen in kids with diagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), but once you remove/control the high intense screen time/stimulation that some children receive, these symptoms drastically decrease or diminish.



HOW do we monitor screens in children?

We understand that in today’s generation screens are a part of our daily life. It is not possible without it due to the growing rate of technology and everything becoming digital.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (APA), screen time is not recommended at all for children under the age of 2. For ages 2-5: less than 1 hour a day and older children to be limited to 2 hours per day.

Children do not get enough exposure to our external environment resulting in them not knowing how to play, being “bored” all the time and although they are learning how to count/sing/ABC’s, they are not physically touching or manipulating objects to learn about their properties. We explore with all of our senses to learn; touch, smell, taste. Screens are limiting all of children’s sensory systems to best learn about particular concepts besides just watching it on a screen.



Tips for regulating:

  1. eliminating screens or decrease drastically

  2. actively explore the world (parks, group play, interacting with others etc)

  3. give importance to face-to-face interactions

  4. encourage interactive activities (cooking, books/bed time stories, playing together, crafts, pretend play etc).

  5. Make eye contact with your children

  6. Subscription boxes: crafts, science, fidgets, foods from around the world, spy games or solving mysteries.

There are also ways to limit what is available to you:

  • remove all apps on iPad except 1 or 2 educational ones

  • get apps that track how much screen time your child is using

  • Use timers, clocks, token systems.

  • Encouraging child to learn to self regulate their screen time: you get 2 hours a day; you can use it all in a chunk of time or you can spread it out. Once it is done, it is done.

  • limit fast moving videos and games as much as possible

  • go old school: use DVD’s or video tapes which limits the viewing time to the length of the videos. Once the video is done, there is no more.

You can give your child a great quality of life with changing some of your learned habits. It takes some time but for the future of your children, it is worth it!

-SP4K

Kim Reiss