How much screen time is too much for kids? | 5 min read

This article serves to provide guidelines and tips for parents.

Explore the impact of excessive screen time on children’s health and development. Learn how to set boundaries, choose appropriate content, and encourage healthier habits.

Understanding screen time limits for kids.

In today’s digital age, screens are everywhere, from televisions and computers to tablets and smartphones. They are not limited to living rooms in homes but are present no matter where one goes.  For many children, screen time has become a significant part of their daily routine. While technology offers numerous educational and entertainment opportunities, excessive screen time can have negative effects on a child’s physical, mental, and social development. Setting appropriate limits and encouraging healthier alternatives is crucial for ensuring that screen time remains a positive aspect of a child’s life.

How much screen time is too much?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to how much screen time is appropriate for children, but experts provide general guidelines based on age:

• For children under 18 months. Avoid screen time, except for video chatting.
• For children aged 18 to 24 months. If parents choose to introduce digital media, they should select high-quality programming and watch it together with their child.
• For children aged 2 to 5 years. Limit screen time to one hour per day of high-quality programming.
• For children aged 6 and older. Set consistent limits on the time spent using screens, ensuring it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or other healthy behaviours.

The impact of excessive screen time.

Too much screen time can lead to a variety of issues for children, affecting both their physical and mental well-being:

• Reduced physical activity. Excessive screen time often replaces physical play, leading to a sedentary lifestyle that can contribute to obesity and other health problems.
• Impaired social skills. Children spending too much time on screens may miss out on important opportunities to develop social skills through face-to-face interactions with family and peers.
• Delayed cognitive development. Studies have shown that excessive screen time can interfere with brain development in young children, impacting language acquisition and problem-solving abilities.
• Sleep problems. The blue light emitted by screens can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to difficulties in falling asleep or staying asleep.
• Eye strain and discomfort. Prolonged screen time can cause digital eye strain, leading to discomfort, headaches, and potential long-term vision problems.

Excessive screen time can lead to:

• Obesity: More TV and video time increases the risk of children becoming overweight, especially with electronics in their bedrooms and exposure to junk food ads.
• Sleep issues: More screen time can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to difficulty falling asleep and increased fatigue.
• Behavioural problems: Children who spend over two hours daily on screens are more prone to emotional, social, and attention issues.
• Poor academic performance: Kids with screens in their bedrooms tend to score lower on tests. They do not devote enough attention to their studies.
• Exposure to violence: Frequent media violence can desensitise children and normalise aggressive behavior.
• Less playtime: Excessive screen use reduces opportunities for active and creative play.

Monitor your child’s screen time, encourage them to sit less and move more, and set clear rules with consequences for screen use.

Enforcing screen time boundaries.

Parents play a crucial role in managing their children’s screen time.

Here are some effective strategies to help set and enforce healthy limits:

• Set clear rules and stick to them. Establish specific times when screens are allowed and when they are not, such as during meals or before bedtime.
• Be involved in content selection. Choose age-appropriate and educational content together with your child, ensuring you know what they are watching or playing.
• Encourage alternative activities. Promote physical play, reading, and other activities that do not involve screens. This helps children develop a more balanced lifestyle.
• Create screen-free zones. Designate certain areas of your home, such as the dining room and bedrooms, as screen-free zones to encourage more face-to-face, verbal interaction.
• Use parental controls. Take advantage of parental control settings to monitor and limit what your child can access online.

The importance of family time.

In a world where screens often dominate attention, it’s important to remember the value of quality time spent with family. Whether it’s sharing a meal without the distraction of devices, engaging in conversations, or enjoying outdoor activities together, these moments are irreplaceable. Screens should never replace the invaluable time spent with parents, grandparents, family, and friends. Building strong relationships and creating lasting memories are essential for a child’s emotional and social development.

The consequences of using devices as substitutes.

Engaging in physical activities with your children, whether it’s walking in nature, jogging, swimming, hiking, or playing sports like rugby, tennis, or soccer, offers far more than just physical benefits. These moments of active play are invaluable opportunities for bonding, sharing, and building a sense of togetherness.

Physical exercise not only strengthens the body and helps develop gross and fine motor skills, but it also nurtures the emotional connection between parents and children. Unfortunately, teachers are noticing an increasing number of children struggling with hand-eye coordination and motor skills, often due to an imbalance caused by excessive screen time.

While it’s natural for parents to need a break and time to relax, relying on screens as a substitute for interaction does a great disservice to their children’s overall development. Prioritising active play and shared experiences can have a lasting positive impact on a child’s growth and well-being.

Conclusion.

Balancing screen time with other activities is key to a child’s overall health and development. By setting clear boundaries, staying involved, and promoting alternative activities, parents can help their children develop healthy habits that will benefit them throughout their lives. Remember, screens are not babysitters, they cannot replace the important role that meaningful interactions with family and friends play in a child’s growth, as well as their physical, social, and emotional development.

In this article, we have established that excessive screen time can strain children’s eyes, leading to issues like digital eye strain, dryness, and blurred vision. It can also impact cognitive development, potentially reducing attention span, impairing social skills, and disrupting sleep patterns, which are crucial for overall brain health and learning.

As parents, you hold the “control.” “Monitor” their usage and make appropriate changes where necessary. The chances are “remote” that they won’t resist but maintain consistency and implement the best measures for their overall wellbeing.