Are we worrying too much about our kids' screen time?
The ever-changing “rules” about what is and what is not good or correct can create the perfect storm of stress and anxiety for parents.
Two decades ago, families had few electronic screens in the home. They may have only had a television and maybe a computer with dial-up internet. Nowadays, because of the prevalence of smartphones, tablets, laptops, computers and video game consoles, children can be online or in front of a screen every minute of the day. Parents who worry about how much screen time their children are getting should also consider just how their kids are using those devices.
When I was a kid, I watched TV. I came home from school every day and turned the TV on to watch Cartoon Network and watched for hours. Let us not even talk about video games. The PlayStation One was a staple, my dad even assisted me at times when it came to racing games.
I was definitely not an anomaly to the ‘system’. The generation I grew up in had constant exposure to Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Need for Speed and Tekken. No one thought twice about TV. It was not controversial and our parents were certainly never judged for letting us have “screen time.”
Since then, parenting has changed so much. The current generation of children are introduced to technology at a very early age, sometimes at birth. They will be substantially more familiar and more comfortable with technology than their parents. Taking this all into consideration, what does this early introduction to technology mean for their development? How does the way they understand information change them? Are screens hurting the way they grow up or could screens be helping them?
There is no denying that screens have an impact on a child’s development. Toddlerhood is a critical time for learning through movement and their environment. Environmental stimuli are critical. If a child, especially a young child like a toddler, is focused on screens for extended periods of time, there will be developmental repercussions. Screen time is also usually sedentary time, so the more a child is using a device or playing games, the less time they are physically moving and exercising.
Yes, I know I just said I sat in front of a TV as a child, however, I was only allowed to watch TV after toddlerhood. I also believe I had a good balance between physical activity and ‘screen time’ in terms of playing outdoors for majority of my day.
Another concern is the effect on sleep and quality of sleep.
“Children today get less sleep than their predecessors and it’s likely that digital media is a contributing factor. More time at night on the screen along with the stimulating nature of the technology and the very content of the programs will lead to less time sleeping.” _ Dr. Ruan D. Melmed.
According to Dr. Melmed, this can also result in overall health concerns. “Poor quality and inadequate sleep can result in inefficient cognitive processing, mood liability, irritability, and sluggishness. Not to mention its impact on diet and weight gain…” states Dr.Melmed.
Essentially, the moral of this article suggests that screens are not all bad. They are not going to turn our children into a generation of unsocialised zombies but they are not all good either. The “rules” of screen time are always changing, so focus on quality.
It is the quality that is important. Hours of Peppa Pig are to a child’s development as what fast food meals are to our health. It is important that parents are active participants in their young children’s media exposure and choose quality programs and games for their children. In saying this, watching Ben10 or Paw Patrol for 30 minutes also will not hinder their development.
Parents have enough to worry about without adding guilt over reasonable screen time. Using common sense and making quality choices are the most important factors. Any parent who is actively concerned with the effect of screen time on their child’s development is not the kind of parent that is going to let their 2-year-old sit for hours watching a show on YouTube. An engaged parent is the first step in moderating technology overuse.
Have a look below for a couple of healthy screen time habits for your children:
Make sure your children watch programs or content that you are familiar with and, whenever you can, watch them together.
Explain what they see on the screen and repeat activities like sharing, giving or singing in real life to teach them why these things are important.
Read app reviews and try apps yourself before your children use them.
Look for educational apps or programs. They should be age appropriate, have a clear learning goal and encourage your children’s participation.
Look for simple pictures and storylines that have a logical sequence of events.
Look for videos that use clear and simple language.
If your children have learned everything about the app, upgrade to the next level or try a new app to keep the learning going.
Avoid commercials or adult programs.
For children aged 2 to 5 years, limit total daily screen time to under 1 hour. Screen time is not recommended for children under 2 years.
Do not rely on screens to calm your children down.
Do not use screen time as a babysitter.
Balance screen time with sports, hobbies, creative and outdoor play.
Make a rule that homework and chores must be finished before screen time.
“I don’t believe the answer is to limit our children to a half-hour of TV a week, but rather to let them explore all of their interests and enjoy all parts of life” _ Meredith Bland