Screens are everywhere, from television to tablets and e-readers to smartphones, so limiting screen time with children is hard. To complicate matters, some screen time can support children’s social development and education.
Too much screen time is associated with many problems. It can lead to insufficient sleep and poor sleep schedules, obesity, delays in social skill and language development, behavior problems, less time learning and attention problems.
Remember that unstructured playtime is much more important for a child’s developing brain than screen time. Children under the age of 2 are more apt to learn when interacting with parents, siblings and others.
Screen time has some benefits for children by age 2, such as programming with movement, music and stories. When you watch programs with your children, you can help them understand what they are seeing and then teach them to apply it in real life. Passive screen time should not replace problem-solving, playing or reading.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has discouraged video use for children younger than 18 months, except for video chatting. If you allow children between 18 and 24 months to have screen time, ensure they avoid solo use and use high-quality shows. Children between the ages of 2 and 5 should have their programming limited to one hour a day.
Consider applying the same rule to your children’s virtual and real environments as children grow. In each environment, play with your children, be involved, teach kindness and most importantly, know what your children do with their friends and who they are.
There are some ways to ensure quality screen time for your young children. Look for interactive options that will engage your children rather than just require staring at the screen. Always review games, programs and apps before allowing children to play or view them.
Common Sense Media is an online organization that publishes ratings and reviews for programming. Such organizations can assist you in determining the appropriateness of your child’s age. The best thing to do is actively participate with your children in their online activities. Be sure to use parental controls to filter or block inappropriate internet content.
For older children, setting clear rules and boundaries for screen time is essential.
Encourage unstructured and unplugged playtime so that they can engage in some physical activity. Make mealtimes a tech-free zone for both adults and children. When children are doing homework, discourage the use of media. Set up curfews for screens, such as no use one hour before bedtime. Think about keeping screens out of your children’s bedrooms at night and charging them outside their rooms. Look into using apps that control the length of time children can use their digital devices.
Social media and online relationships have become important to young adult lives. It is suggested that it is OK for adolescents to participate in these activities if children understand appropriate behavior. Let them know that cyberbullying, sexting, and sharing personal information are not allowed. It does not matter how savvy your children are; they will make mistakes. It is important to monitor their online presence to guide them and help them learn from those mistakes. Be a good role model for your children as you use your own digital devices.
The most important thing that you can contribute to your children is giving them your time and attention. Consider scheduling family meetings to discuss and plan the screen time the family will have for the coming week. Don’t forget to plan physical activity opportunities for everyone in the household. Do things together. This will help improve the strength of family relationships. There is no escaping screen time, but it can be used with thoughtfulness. Teach your children that screen time is a part of life but must be balanced with other activities.
Adrian Kohrt is a family nutrition coordinator for Cooperative Extension Service, a part of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, working in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For questions, she can be contacted at amkohrt@alaska.edu or 907-474-7930
