SINGAPORE: Guidelines on screen use will be introduced in schools, including preschools, as part of a new national strategy launched on Tuesday ( Jan 21 ) to address children’s health.
The national health promotion strategy- Grow Well SG – seeks to improve preventive care and inculcate healthier lifestyles in children and adolescents, according to a joint release issued by the Ministry of Health ( MOH), Ministry of Education ( MOE ) and Ministry of Social and Family Development ( MSF ) on Tuesday.
During a press presentation on Monday, MOH said native cohort experiments have led to more research on children’s health habits and their effects in the small as well as long term.
This includes studies on how the central nervous system and brain developments are associated with screen use as well as how inadequate physical activity has resulted in poorer body mass index ( BMI ) or obesity problems.
“We’ve reached a critical level. We have much information that prompts us to want to do something than to wait for more information to come up, ” said MOH.
For a start, the fresh strategy will focus on children aged up to 12 years old but will be extended to older children immediately.
TACKLING EXCESSIVE SCREEN TIME
As part of the strategy, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA ) will update its code of practice for preschools, effective Feb 1, to mandate no screen use for infants up to 18 months.
This follows studies indicating a strong relationship between screen use and mental development in infants and toddlers, with incorrect and increased use leading to poorer language skills and shorter attention spans.
Under the revised code of practice, monitors can only be used for teaching and learning objectives for kids aged 18 weeks to six times.
At the press presentation, MSF clarified that most classrooms now do not use displays in their treatment for infants.
” These new screen use requirements are basically reflective of practices in preschools today, but the inclusion of the screen use requirements in the code of practice formalises these methods, which are already commonly adopted by institutions, and even makes clear to classrooms what they should never screen as time powders to occupy the kids,” said MSF.
Responding to questions from investigators about what happens if a school does not agree with the password, the government said it will provide guidance and support to institutions in the first six months of application, adding that it will not get a disciplinary approach during this period.
” After that, for preschools who do not comply … ECDA will then direct them to cease this practice and also to take further regulatory actions if the children’s well-being is being compromised,” MSF said, adding that regulatory actions could include warnings.