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What Electronics Can Do to Your Infant’s Brain

By U.S. News & World Report

Have you ever watched a baby stare at a TV? The TV is huge, flashing and mesmerizing, and you’ll notice that while watching, infants do not turn their heads — they just sit and stare straight ahead. Because infants become so transfixed on the screen, they stop doing anything and everything else and ultimately, they miss out on human interaction and the opportunity to explore their new and exciting world.

The same is true of certain electronic toys. The graphics and sounds are mesmerizing and hold a child’s attention for longer than a traditional toy. Studies have shown that during the time kids are watching a screen or playing on an electronic toy, they are not interacting and learning as much as they could with other types of toys. Electronics also change how we interact with our children — sometimes the toy becomes the babysitter, and parents do not have to interact.

According to updated media guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics, children younger than 2 years needs hands-on exploration and social interaction to develops cognitive, language, motor and social-emotional skills — all of which they cannot learn from digital media. In addition, multiple developmental and health concerns continue to exist for kids using electronics to an excess. This doesn’t mean that all electronics are bad for children; it just means parents have to better navigate the digital world for their little ones. Here are some do’s and don’ts that can help:

Do’s

— Video chat: Video chat applications such as FaceTime and Skype are OK for children.

— Set a time limit: If you’re going to use electronics with your child, do so for no more than 30 minutes at a time and no more than one hour total per day between ages 2 to 5 years.

— Choose educational or interactive games: Many products that have been marketed as educational in the past have been shown to have negative influences on learning and development. You can check whether a game or app is really what it says it is on commonsensemedia.org.

— Opt for a slower pace: Choose games that are slow paced, so the child has time to think and interact with the games or toys.

[See: 10 of the Biggest Health Threats Facing Your Kids This School Year.]

Don’ts

— Avoid mindless TV time: Television is the worst of the electronic media. There is no interaction, and studies have repeatedly shown an increase in attention problems with increasing TV time.

— No screens under 2: Children under 24 months should still have as little time as possible with screens, particularly television.

— Shut down at night: Turn all screens off at least an hour before bed.

— No-screen zone: Screens should stay out of the bedroom. Televisions and portable screens such as tablets and phones should be stored out of the room at night.

[See: 10 Concerns Parents Have About Their Kids’ Health.]

Navigating the Electronics-Heavy Holiday Season

Speaking of electronics, holiday time is around the corner, and the stores are filling with the latest and greatest toys. Many of the toys marketed to very young children are electronic toys with captivating flashing lights and catchy sounds. Many of our traditional toys have been turned into electronic toys to bring them into the new millennium. As the holiday season approaches, try to minimize electronic gifts and focus more on hands-on experiences.

[See: 10 Fun Kid Activities for Adult Bodies and Minds.]

Tips for Holiday Season Gifts

— Go low tech: The perk of a low-tech gift is that you won’t have to charge it or buy batteries. Find something the entire family can enjoy together. Choose a board game that everyone might enjoy. If you absolutely can’t stay away from electronics, pick a movie for family movie night or an interactive game.

— Buy books: Traditional paper books and electronic books are both OK. If you’re purchasing an electronic book or tablet, stay away from those that have all the bells and whistles. Instead, opt for a tablet or book that mimics the traditional reading experience. The extras can distract and impair some reading comprehension and attention. If children get accustomed to books that have distractions, they have a hard time finding a plain book interesting (which can make school a challenge). It’s also important to read the book with your child and have a dialog about what is happening in the story.

— Focus on experiences: Instead of becoming fixated on what toy to buy, focus on family experiences and outings — like craft time, ice skating, sledding, cooking together or whatever your family enjoys doing over the holiday season. Not only will these experiences bring your family closer together, but they’ll also create long-lasting memories.

— Avoid temptation: Don’t be afraid of making your toddler upset or angry by not giving him or her the latest and greatest electronic toy or tablet. Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, famously didn’t allow his children to own iPads — and significantly restricted their screen time.

Every family is different and needs to work together to set its own rules and limits. To help navigate through an electronics-heavy holiday season, create a family media plan here. And remember: The holiday season is about spending time with loved ones, so try and unplug and spend quality time with one another. Enjoying each other’s company — whether it’s in a low-key or active setting — will benefit both the mind and body.

More from U.S. News

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What Electronics Can Do to Your Infant’s Brain originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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