Screen time is the amount of time spent in front of an electronic device, such as watching television, using a phone or tablet, being on a computer, or playing on a gaming console. With schools now incorporating the use of tablets to display learning material, and many popular entertainment choices for children utilising some form of screen, children appear to be spending more time in front of screens than ever before. It is consequently no surprise that there has been much debate surrounding the risks of screen time, and how much screen time is recommended.
Positive and Negative Screen Time
The Raising Children Network reports that there are different forms of screen time and knowing the type and amount of screen time your child is engaging in can help to determine whether it is making a positive or negative influence on your child. It is suggested that with the use of an electronic device it is not only the amount of time spent using it but also the quality of the material being viewed that can have a positive or negative impact. Screen time can be interactive, such as when playing a game on an iPad, or non-interactive, for example sitting and watching YouTube videos. Screen time can also be educational, when reading a school eBook on a computer, or it can be recreational, such as watching your favourite TV show for fun. All forms of screen time can help your child to learn new skills and can be positive when parents are involved in the decision about what is being viewed or what games are being played. When parents play a role in this, they can ensure the content is explained to the child so that it is well understood.
Setting a Daily Limit
Despite the type of screen time being used, limiting daily screen time is still considered to be the most beneficial for child development, as face-to-face social interactions create more learning opportunities and are better for overall wellbeing. The Raising Children Network suggest that increased screen time can lead to negative physical and developmental issues and, when not used appropriately, can cause a risk to safety. Common physical problems that result from increased screen time include: sore irritated eyes, headaches, fatigue, and strain on the neck and spine.
By controlling the amount of time spent using screens and being aware of these risks the likelihood of these developing for your children may be reduced.
Recommended Screen Time Limits
The current guidelines on screen time recommend that screen time for children younger than 18-months-old should be avoided completely. For children aged 18-months to 2-years it is recommended that screen time be limited to high-quality programs or games, both with adult involvement to provide an understanding of the content. For children aged 2-5-years-old screen time should be limited to 1-hour per day with adult supervision and for children 6+ years of age, no more than 2-hours of screen time per day is recommended. The probability of the negative effects of screen time occurring can also be reduced by encouraging your child to take regular breaks by looking away from the screen, getting up and moving around, and by sitting upright whilst participating in screen time.
Keep It Healthy
With technology today, avoiding screen time completely is nearly impossible, so having a limit on screen time is about enjoying screen time in a healthy moderation. It may be unachievable to significantly limit the amount of time your child spends in front of a screen, but by making a conscious effort to ensure your child is utilising screens to be both an interactive and educational tool as well as a recreational outlet, will reduce the negative effects of persistent screen time. Additionally, by ensuring your child has the opportunity to engage in other activities that they enjoy, it will not only reduce the risks of screen time but encourage healthy, and fun activities both with and without screens.
