DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) -Â Cellphones, tablets and game systems are not unusual items kids have. However, the amount of screen time they consume could weigh on their mental health.
Carrie Ray, Director of Youth and Family Services at Heritage Behavioral Health, said excessive screen time is the issue.Â
"Excessive screen time can cause changes and [affect] mood stabilization. Kids can become more anxious, more depressed," Ray said.Â
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This school year, Decatur Public Schools is implementing a no-cellphone policy. Cellphones are prohibited during the school day, and the district recommends that devices be left at home. If students bring devices, they are expected to keep them inside a locker or a storage provided by the school. Ray said the district policy could benefit kids in multiple ways.Â
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"They're going to be able to have more focus on what's going on in the classroom and not what's going on online or who's doing what on TikTok. They're going to be able to improve that focus and have more attention on learning and not be distracted by your phone going off every two seconds by notification," Ray said.
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While some parents may be concerned about their kids not having phones during the school day, Ray recommends finding alternative communication methods. Ray acknowledges that it could be a downside to the cellphone policy.Â
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"I would start having conversations with your kids, teachers. And that's that could also be a positive side effect. We're encouraging that communication with the teachers so that you have that two-way conversation, that two-way communication to where if there is something going on in the classroom, the teacher is able to tell you and inform you," Ray said.Â
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Children with cellphones before age 13 show higher rates of aggression, suicidal thoughts and self-esteem struggles, according to StudyFinds. Ray said a solution could be practicing screen-time moderation and monitoring what kids are doing on devices.
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