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HEALTHCARE
LIKE IT OR not, screen time—time spent Children shouldn’t interact with digital » Get outside together and play tag, ride
watching TV or using a computer, tablet or media by themselves.” bikes, hike a new trail or explore a
smartphone—is a staple of childhood and nearby park
adolescence. Screen time isn’t going away, After age 2, the AAP recommends setting
so the key is to ensure it doesn’t crowd limits on noneducational screen time based » Remove electronic devices from your
out other, healthier activities. That can be on several factors, including your child’s child’s bedroom so she’s not tempted to
challenging. A 2019 report by Common Sense age, health and development, as well as your use them when she should be sleeping,
Media found that 8- to 12-year-old children family’s priorities and values. reading or playing
spent an average of nearly five hours each
day using screens for entertainment. Among DIGITAL DOWNSIDES » Start a weekly, screen-free family
13- to 18-year-olds, average screen time tradition, such as board game or backyard
for entertainment rose to more than seven High-quality, limited screen time can be sports night
hours daily. good for children—it can help them connect
with peers who share their interests and » Use parental controls for TV and online
During the pandemic, screens became open their eyes to new ideas. Without limits services
more than sources of entertainment— on noneducational screen time, however, Whatever screen time limits you set,
they also served as essential tools for those benefits may not outweigh the harms
virtual learning. With children spending of screen overuse. make sure you’re not out of the loop when it
so much time on screens for remote comes to your child’s digital habits. Preview
schoolwork, some parents were left “Increasing amounts of screen time are TV shows and games to be sure they’re
wondering how much screen time is too associated with rising body mass index and appropriate, and teach your kids how to
much. The key is to remember that not all obesity, developmental delays, and sleep behave safely online. Importantly, be sure
screen time is the same. problems,” Dr. Peterson says. “For teenagers, you know who your child interacts with on
too much social media use can affect their social media.
EDUCATIONAL VS. ENTERTAINMENT body image and self-esteem.”
ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT SCREEN
Screen time that’s used for evidence- Children and teens who spend too much TIME COULD BE AFFECTING YOUR
based educational purposes is necessary time in front of screens have less time to CHILD’S HEALTH? TO FIND AN
and acceptable, but too much screen time devote to activities that could improve their ADOLESCENT OR PEDIATRIC MEDICINE
for entertainment can be harmful. The physical and mental health, such as reading PHYSICIAN WHO CAN HELP, VISIT
latter type of screen time is what parents or playing outside. WWW.CHILDRENSHOSPITALNH.ORG/
should limit. PHYSICIANS.
SCREEN TIME OUT
“If children are spending more time on WATCH FOR THESE
screens for educational purposes, they What can you do to ensure your child WARNING SIGNS
should spend less time on screens during doesn’t spend all of his summer free time
their downtime,” says Christy Peterson, MD, watching TV, gaming online or scrolling How can you tell whether your child
pediatrician at Atrium Health Navicent. “I through social media feeds? You can start is spending too much time in front
like to remind parents that kids don’t need by creating a family media use plan, which of screens? Christy Peterson, MD,
to avoid screen time as much as they need the AAP recommends as a way to set screen pediatrician at Atrium Health Navicent,
to spend that time doing other things. The time and digital device ground rules for the says to look for two signs: sleep
more time kids spend in front of screens, whole family. problems and weight gain.
the less time they’re spending doing active
things that build strength and skills.” “Having a family media use plan can “When your child isn’t sleeping
be helpful because it involves everyone,” normally or her sleep isn’t restorative,
Children younger than 18 months should Dr. Peterson says. “As parents, we have the the first thing you should look at is her
not be exposed to screens except to video same tendencies as our children. We need media use,” Dr. Peterson says. “Weight
chat with loved ones, according to the to assess our own use of screens and media gain may be another sign of too much
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). For before we impose requirements on our kids. screen time. Kids can gain weight from
18- to 24-month-olds, it’s okay to slowly Everyone needs to follow the rules.” excessive screen time because of the
introduce screens, but make sure you’re inactivity itself but also due to the
always part of your children’s interactions Dr. Peterson also says it can be helpful tendency to eat while watching TV or
with them. to tie rewards and consequences to using digital devices.”
following the family media use plan.
“If a child is going to have screen time, it There’s much more you can do to limit
should be with a parent,” Dr. Peterson says. screen time. You can:
“Screens shouldn’t be babysitters. Screen » Ban smartphones and other digital
time should be a trifecta of communication
that includes the parent, child, and a TV devices during family meals and activities
show or another form of digital media. » Cancel subscriptions to streaming
services your family doesn’t use often
» Create a daily chore schedule for
your child
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