Screen Time

Research shows that when children are "plugged in" all the time, they're not as happy as kids who spend less time using media and technology. The parenting challenge is not to prevent children from using media and technology, but to achieve a healthy balance between the time spent connected to technology and having it unplugged at home. Developing a family media policy is an excellent way to achieve balance in the amount of time your children spend on cell phones, watching TV and using computers.

What is screen time?

Simply put, the amount of time a person spends in front of a screen. Screens include:

  • TVs

  • Computers

  • Individual gaming devices

  • Video games

  • Tablets

  • Cell phones

In October 2016, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued these updated recommendations for media limitations:

  • Birth to 18 months: Avoid screen time other than video chatting.

  • 18 to 24 months: Limited high-quality programming (e.g., PBS) with a parent present to help children understand what they are viewing.

  • 2 to 5 years: One hour of high-quality screen time per day, with parent present to help children understand and apply what is seen in relation to the world around them.

  • 6 years and older: Place consistent screen time limits, with special attention to ensure that media is not taking the place of adequate sleep, physical activity or face-to-face social interaction. Two hours or less of screen time is generally recommended.

Excessive screen time has been linked to:

  • Poor school performance

  • Obesity

  • Diabetes

  • Behavioral issues

It’s one thing to limit screen time; it’s another to provide opportunities for kids to be productive. From reading and exercising to simply spending time with family and friends, children need clear alternatives. They also need to understand the connection between those alternatives and other goals that are important to them. Kids should have at least an hour of physical movement each day that gets the heart beating faster and no more than an hour or two of inactivity at a time. Customize a list of activities your kids enjoy doing to replace technology. Below are some ideas.

Things to do instead of technology:

  • Read a book or magazine

  • Play a board or card game

  • Shoot some hoops or jump rope

  • Go for a bike ride

  • Take a walk

  • Put together a puzzle

  • Play an old fashioned game of telephone or hide and seek

  • Write a letter to an family member or friend

Foster Care, parenting, teens, THINK, video gamesRebecca Whitescreen time, technology, tv, television, think, books, magazines, board games, tablets, phones, parenting