Addiction and behavior

A few weeks ago some studies came out about the chemical nature of screen addiction; I would have saved them, but I'm not doing active research on the subject these days, and I'm not sure where I'd put them. Here, probably. If you want to know why young children aren't reading, it's because there are screens, and they are addicted to them.

We've got two foster daughters, nine and ten. They are delightful children, remarkably innocent considering what they've gone through. One can't blame them for drifting toward something (a screen) that offers reward, light, good feeling, dopamine. Another foster mom gave them two screens and the addictive behavior commenced. They want screens when they wake up, when they come home from school, after dinner, before bed. They want them all the time.

My wife and I, both recovering alcoholic/potheads, recognize addictive behavior when we see it. In addition I have a house full of books and I'm being pressured to clean things out, get things out of the house. There have been times when these girls have been talked into rummaging around in the garage, or in old boxes of toys, or even digging in the dirt; they're normal kids and can have fun in traditional ways as well as modern ones. But in their relation to screens, they're like most kids: addicted easily. If they have a choice, they'll choose screens.

In school presumably they'll teach them how to read, or at least try. (more later...)