Excessive use of almost anything can have negative effects at any age. Having one drink is fine, having way too many is problematic. It’s great to have a child who loves to read, but not if they spend every minute of every day with their nose in a book. Excessive screen time at any age can lead to serious health complications.
Research on screen time has come to the same conclusion. Screens are great for children’s development, but not when used excessively.
We now know that overuse of screen media is considered a public health concern. Researchers in the field agree that excessive screen time can lead to poor sleep, a higher risk of obesity and other health problems, poor executive function skills, lower academic performance, and psychological problems such as stress and anxiety.
In young children, excessive screen time has been negatively associated with poor language development, largely because it reduces the quantity and quality of interactions children have with their parents. In other words, research has found that screens reduce young children’s opportunities to practice language skills with their parents.
Most of the available advice says that limiting screen time can help stem the negative effects of screen use on children’s behavior and development. But here’s the thing: New research says that limiting screen time alone is not enough to help children develop a healthy relationship with screens.
Here are some simple tips to help you develop an effective approach to your child’s screen time.
Practical tips for managing your child’s screen time
1) Make screen time management a family affair
It is impossible to teach your child to unplug if you are constantly glued to your screen. The good news is that it is possible to set a good example at home by doing simple things like
– Avoiding leaving the TV on all the time as background noise
– Setting screen use guidelines, such as “no screens after 7 p.m. for the whole family,” or trying a screen-free challenge, such as “no screens on Monday nights. For younger children, a screen time schedule (e.g., screen time only allowed between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.) can help structure screen use and avoid conflicts.
– Banning screens from bedrooms at night
– Banning screens during meals
– Establishing “screen-free” periods at certain times of the day
– Starting a family tradition that doesn’t involve a screen. This article has great ideas you can copy!
Or you can try our free 30-day challenge with fun activities the whole family will enjoy.
2) Overcome your screen aversion and set reasonable guidelines
No matter what we think of them, screens are here to stay, and when used properly, they can be extremely beneficial to children’s development. Recent studies have found that screens can help improve many skills, including early reading skills in young children.
In one study, researchers analyzed how the use of visual media would affect children’s creative thinking skills.
286 children between the ages of 10 and 14 participated in the study. The children were encouraged to practice elements of the program in their free time while watching television or other media that they found interesting. The researchers found that the children who participated in the program scored significantly higher on tests of creativity and divergent thinking at the end of the program.
Set clear and realistic limits so everyone knows what is expected. Remember that passive television viewing is more harmful than active screen-based learning or socializing.
Consider what your child is using the screen time for.
3) Help your child find alternatives
It is easier to accept your child’s screen time if they have many other activities that do not involve screens.
Help your child discover other activities to engage in: reading, arts and crafts, playing with siblings and friends, playing board games, cooking, listening to music, playing outdoors, and so on.
One thing that works really well with our kids is that on weekends and holidays, we ask them to make a list of at least five things that they are going to do on a given day, and then we ask them to do all of the things on the list for at least 20 minutes. This ensures that they don’t spend all their time on screens and also helps them learn to manage their boredom on their own.
4) Limit your child’s screen time
While much of the available research on the “right amount” of screen time is conflicting, experts have found fairly consistent results when it comes to screen use in children under the age of three.
One study sought to understand the relationship between hours of screen time in 3-year-olds and children’s behavioral problems, developmental milestones, and vocabulary acquisition. Nearly 2000 mothers and children participated in the study.
The researchers found that prolonged screen exposure in this age group (two or more hours per day) led to an increased likelihood of behavioral problems, delayed achievement of developmental milestones, and poorer vocabulary acquisition.
The general advice from experts is to :
– Avoid screens completely before 18 months (except for occasional video chat with a relative AND in the presence of an adult)
– Limit screen time to occasional educational content in the presence of an adult between 18 and 24 months
– Propose no more than 1 hour of non-educational screen time per day on weekdays for children ages 2 to 5 (and 3 hours per day on weekends)
– After age 6, most experts say parents need to set their own guidelines for screen time based on their own circumstances. In other words, after this age, the most important thing is to instill healthy habits and teach your child that there is more to life and fun than screens.
Final thoughts on managing your child’s screen time
As with all things, children need to know the limits of screen time so they know exactly what is expected of them. But you must be willing to change your strategy if necessary, taking into account your child’s age, the reasons for their screen use, and whether or not that use is really excessive.
Remember, the earlier you start setting rules and limits for screen time, the easier it will be to manage your child’s screen time throughout childhood and beyond. But even if you start late, if you’re patient, consistent, and clear about your rules, your kids will eventually get used to the new limits.
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