Understanding the Impact of Screen Time on Children

As parents, it’s so important we understand the impact of screen time on our children and ourselves. We know too much exposure can lead to physical health issues and problems with academic performance. But what exactly are the implications? Research shows extended screen time doesn’t just correlate with physical harm – it also negatively affects cognitive development, social skills, and emotional well-being in kids. Given this, do we really want our children staring at screens for hours on end?

For kids aged 5-17, prioritizing leisure activities like gaming over regular tasks like studying can have long-term negative effects on their focus and school performance. The CDC recommends time limits of 0.5-1 hour/day for three to seven-year-olds, one hour for 7-12-year-olds, 1.5 hours for 12-15-year-olds, and two hours for 16+-year-olds. As parents, we should aim to limit screen time to 2 hours total per day for TV, computers, laptops, and phones. And we should encourage other forms of play during that window – how about taking the dog for a walk or an imaginary game with friends?

Instead of playing video games and watching TV all day, let’s take advantage of good weather and explore the great outdoors. Take bike rides in the park and go on hikes – these activities promote early physical activity and motor skill development. Introducing creative crafts and board games also gives kids something fun that doesn’t involve tech.

We need to be aware of how our own screen time influences our children’s relationship with technology. If we’re constantly staring at screens ourselves, that signals it’s okay for kids to do the same without understanding the implications. To promote healthy tech habits in our little ones, we all need to limit our screen use. By being mindful of balancing real-world and digital activities, we can raise tech-savvy yet well-rounded children.

Strategies to Regulate Screen Time

Many caregivers can face the challenge of having difficulty managing their child’s screen time nowadays. With technology becoming such an essential part of our lives, tracking and regulating how much time we spend on phones or computers can be challenging. However, using a developmental approach may help you with your challenge. By developmental, I mean looking at the screen time challenge as a learning opportunity and focusing on positive solutions.

Working as a Family

The first step in this process is to sit down as a family and talk about the pros and cons of technology usage. Talk about the behaviours the family has noticed when people are overusing devices. A good way to present this is using “I statements”.

“I have noticed anger when it’s time to stop playing video games.” 

After going through this process, we collaboratively decided on technology usage agreements as a family. These agreements should include:

• Location of Use: Identifying acceptable areas for technology use, such as in the living room.
• Daily Time Limits: Setting clear limits on the amount of time each day that can be spent using technology.
• Exceptions to the Agreement: Outlining specific situations where deviating from these rules is permissible.
• Type of Usage: Defining what forms of technology usage are acceptable.
• Where the devices are left when not in use.
• What happens if we don’t follow the agreements.

Action Tip:

• Create technology usage agreements collaboratively, including consequences.
• Set limits for all family members.
• Discuss behaviors, not the person.
• Display the agreements on a poster for visibility.
• Refer positively to the agreements when someone is not adhering to them, avoiding threats.
• Lead by example
• Have devices left in the living room charging at night. 

Even with clear agreements and limits in place, getting kids to put down devices at times can still be difficult. When this happens, stay calm and be understanding. Empathize with how engaging and fun technology can be. Then, remind them of the agreements made and suggest an alternative activity you can do together, like playing a board game, reading a book, or going for a walk outside.

Making screen time educational can also help balance out leisure usage. There are many apps and games that can support learning and development if used appropriately. Stay involved and research age-appropriate educational apps, sites and games. Set parameters like only allowing educational screen time during the allotted daily technology hours.

At the end of the day, modelling healthy technology habits yourself is the most impactful thing you can do. Be mindful of your screen time and try to put devices away during family time. Demonstrate that there are other meaningful ways to spend time together. You can find the right balance of technology usage for your family with patience and consistency. The key is maintaining open communication, setting clear limits, and making screen-free time together fun and engaging.