LUBBOCK, Texas — Many school districts have already begun enforcing the new state law banning cell phones on school grounds. This change requiring students to unplug during the school day has local Texas Tech Physicians Pediatrician Dr. Ana Montanez hopeful this will have positive impacts on students’ health.
“We are not going to get rid of phones, screens and computers, but we do need to be very cognizant, both as parents and leaders to sort of evaluate the needs of the screen time,” Dr. Montanez said.
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Dr. Montanez treats several patients for physical issues like neck and back pain and also emotional health like anxiety and depression. With smart devices no longer allowed on school grounds, she is hopeful the reduction of screen time will reverse the emotional and physical trends she treats.
“Our kids need to learn how to cope with their emotions, first by identifying them and then learning how to manage them and being on screens, phones, tablets, and games…they’re not able to do that very easily,” Dr. Montanez said.
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She said that students may push back with their behavior due to adjusting to less screen time. Dr. Montanez suggested parents do their best to get to the root cause of their behavior and offer personalized support as they navigate a new normal…