EXCLUSIVE Pediatric nurse reveals the most dangerous thing parents can do... and millions are guilty of it
Have you ever handed your child an iPad to keep them distracted while you're trying to get things done around the house? Or let them watch YouTube unattended while you're cooking or cleaning?
Well, according to mother-of-two and pediatric nurse Mary Catherine, 36, from Louisville, Kentucky, who has had over 13 years of experience working with children in the medical field, that can be extremely detrimental to young kids.
She told the Daily Mail during a recent exclusive chat that 'unsupervised screen time' is one of the worst things parents can let youngsters do.
'I think using screens to pacify kids' boredom is a huge issue,' she said. 'I constantly see kids scrolling their parents' phones on TikTok or YouTube in my clinic and it pains me.
'These apps are not made for kids and there can be some very dangerous imagery and topics that children should not be exposed to.'
Mary noted that she herself was guilty of the practice when she was trying to balance having a newborn and a toddler following the birth of her second child.
But one eye-opening moment showed her just how bad excessive screen-time could be.
'I remember when my second child was born, we used the iPad A LOT with my oldest, who was about 2.5 years old at the time, to "help" us distract her while we needed to do things with the baby,' she admitted.
'One day I was watching her scroll through the YouTube Kids app and she was watching maybe 30 seconds of a kids show clip, then scrolling to the next.
'It is training young minds to need quick dopamine hits. I immediately deleted the YouTube Kids app and realized how much I needed to cut her screen time and quit relying on it to help me parent.'
She revealed that after they completely cut-out screens for her daughter during the week, the toddler started 'sleeping and eating better,' and had less 'tantrums.'
'It was all tied to the screens. They have a very big impact on young developing minds and we've got to stop utilizing screens as a daily parenting tool,' said the expert.
The pediatric nurse also warned against letting older kids use electronics unsupervised - especially when it comes to social media.
'Social media is the gateway to their childhood ending,' she pointed out. 'I fully support no smart phones until at least eighth grade and no social media until at least 16.'
Mary has dedicated her social media accounts to educating parents on how to keep their family healthy.
She said the key is to focus on a healthy diet, restful sleep, and daily play.
She recommended limiting packaged snacks and instead, giving kids healthier options like fruits and vegetables.
'Also, water should be the primary drink for everyone!' Mary urged.
She also stressed the importance of implementing a 'consistent bed time' as well as a 'consistent routine' before kids go to sleep.
'This helps kids learn how to slow down their mind and body and get their body to naturally wind down for bed,' she shared.
'This can be a simple - bath, brush teeth, read a book, good night. And try to aim for the same 30 minute window for bedtime.'
The mom-of-two added that healthy playtime is vital because it helps with 'social, emotional, and physical development.'
'Unstructured play and free-time gets out energy, stabilizes cortisol and regulates their appetite and supports healthy sleep cycles,' she concluded.
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This should provide 'a routine that will provide fitness, longevity, health and performance,' he says. As for the weight you should be lifting, John reckons a 20kg kettlebell will adequately challenge most men, while 10kg is a good choice for most women. However, this can vary on a case-by-case basis. 'Many people will need to go heavier or lighter depending on age, experience, health and goals,' John adds. How to do Dan John's three-move kettlebell workout Now you've learned the fundamentals of successful kettlebell training, it's time to put your newfound knowledge into action. To do that, John prescribes 'the humane burpee' – a full-body workout which uses all three of the essential kettlebell exercises. Here's how to do it. Kettlebell swing x15 Goblet squat x5 Press-up x5 Kettlebell swing x15 Goblet squat x4 Press-up x4 Kettlebell swing x15 Goblet squat x3 Press-up x3 Kettlebell swing x15 Goblet squat x2 Press-up x2 Kettlebell swing x15 Goblet squat x1 Press-up x1 John recommends focussing on using good form for each exercise – achieving full squat depth, maintaining whole-body tension during the press-ups, drawing power from the hips for the kettlebell swings, and so on. But that doesn't mean you should slow your pace drastically and sacrifice all intensity. This workout is designed to get you sweaty and strong, so you should try to flow smoothly through the moves. 'If you have to stop, you stop, but your goal is to do it with minimal breaks,' he says. 'The only time we would [want to] rest is iduring the transition from the press-up back up to the swing.' So there you have it, a full body session using a single piece of affordable equipment and three rules for great form and development. If time or your bank balance prevent you from heading to the gym or attending fitness classes, you can flex just as hard with the help of a humble kettlebell from the comfort of your living room.
