“What’s Wrong with My Child?” by Dr. Marlena Kruger
Published in Mother & Child Magazine, Issue 31
This article addresses the growing concerns parents face regarding their children’s behavioral, emotional, and developmental challenges—especially in the context of excessive screen time. Dr. Marlena Kruger explores the confusion many parents experience when faced with conflicting professional opinions or ambiguous symptoms and emphasizes the importance of understanding both genetic and environmental influences on child development.
A central theme is the impact of electronic screens on children’s health—termed Electronic Screen Syndrome (ESS). Excessive screen exposure can lead to misdiagnosed conditions such as ADHD and virtual autism, and affects children physically, neurologically, and emotionally. The article details how screens overstimulate the eyes, disrupt melatonin production, and impair brain development, particularly the frontal lobe. This can manifest in symptoms like mood swings, anxiety, insomnia, poor academic performance, and even speech delays.
Dr. Kruger warns that even educational digital tools can trigger stress responses in the body, disrupting sleep cycles and leading to digital addiction with withdrawal-like symptoms. She urges parents to establish firm screen boundaries from infancy and stresses the importance of real-world interactions for healthy brain development.
The TechnoLife Wise Foundation advocates for a holistic, faith-centered approach to parenting in a digital world. Through their “Happy Neuro Heroes” and “Techno-wise Living and Parenting” courses, they aim to empower parents and caregivers to protect their children’s well-being and help them flourish with purpose and joy.