UNICEF Warns: Rising Screen Time Is Harming Our Children — Here’s How Creative Play Can Help
Technology has become an inseparable part of our lives — from learning apps to online games, screens are everywhere. But as convenient as they are, they’re also quietly reshaping childhood.
According to UNICEF’s 2023 report, children aged 5–15 now spend an average of 3 to 5 hours per day on screens. That’s nearly one-third of their waking hours spent looking at digital devices.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that children aged 2–5 years should not have more than one hourof screen time per day — and none at all for those under 2. But the reality today is quite different.
This growing digital dependency is affecting the way children learn, focus, and connect with the world.
The Hidden Impact of Excessive Screen Time
While screens offer educational content and entertainment, too much exposure can have long-term consequences.
Research from UNICEF, WHO, and the American Academy of Pediatrics links excessive screen time to:
- Reduced attention span and slower cognitive development
- Sleep disruption and irritability
- Less interest in physical or creative play
- Difficulty in emotional regulation and communication
Unstructured screen time keeps children passive — they consume content but rarely create. And creativity, imagination, and problem-solving are born only when children use their hands, colors, and minds together.
Why Creative Play Is More Powerful Than We Realize
Creative play is not just a hobby — it’s an essential form of learning.
When a child paints, builds, or crafts, they explore ideas, experiment with outcomes, and develop independence.
According to child development experts, art and tactile learning help children:
- Strengthen motor coordination and focus
- Improve patience, imagination, and self-expression
- Build emotional confidence and resilience
- The best part? Creative play doesn’t require a screen, a fancy gadget, or structured lessons — just colors, tools, and freedom.
A Simple, Made-in-India Step Toward Creativity
At Osmly, we wanted to bring back creativity to children’s everyday lives through something fun, personalized, and screen-free.
Our DIY Customizable MDF Nameplate Painting Kit was designed with that exact purpose in mind.
Each kit includes:
- A laser-cut MDF nameplate customized with the child’s name and favorite cartoon
- A set of watercolors and a paint brush
- A hanging rope to display their art
- Eco-friendly packaging ready for gifting
This kit is a small yet meaningful step toward encouraging creativity, imagination, and self-expression.
Whether used as a birthday return gift, a school art activity, or part of a CSR creativity program, it offers children the chance to experience pride in something they created with their own hands.
How Schools, NGOs, and Parents Can Make a Difference
Reducing screen time doesn’t mean cutting off technology completely. It means creating balance — giving children time to explore offline creativity alongside digital learning.
Here’s how communities can contribute:
- Parents can replace a portion of daily screen time with creative play sessions at home.
- Schools can include more hands-on activities like painting, DIY crafts, and art-based learning.
- NGOs and CSR initiatives can adopt creative kits like Osmly’s for workshops that nurture imagination.
Even one hour a week of creative play can significantly improve focus, emotional health, and confidence in children.
Let’s Bring Back Colors and Creativity
Childhood should be full of imagination, color, and curiosity — not just screen time.
If we can help children discover the joy of creating something real, we can help them grow with better focus, creativity, and balance.
At Osmly, we believe that creativity is a skill for life.
Let’s give our children more colors in their hands and fewer screens in front of their eyes.
Explore the DIY Customizable Nameplate Painting Kit at www.osmly.in
