Decades ago when today’s parents were being raised, there was no such thing as an “iPad baby.” Yes, they had their fair share of Saturday morning cartoons, and family computer time, but screens in general were less prevalent. The digital age was just upon us. It wasn’t in full swing.
Today, screen time is a hot topic among parents. Some parents are old school and make sure their children see as little screen time as possible. While others are more laid back — leaning into the convenience that Paw Patrol, Bluey, and Ms. Rachel offer.
If you’re still figuring out what works for your family, keep reading. We’ll tell you everything there is to know about children and screen time.
Why Should You Monitor Your Child’s Screentime?
Parents and guardians who are a bit more liberal with screen time may wonder why it’s an issue. In this new digital age, why is screen time worth worrying about? After all, many children use screens in school for learning purposes. Screens can be used for entertainment purposes. If a child seems to be developing normally, is it an issue?
Screens can expose children to a variety of behaviors and content they may not otherwise have access to or be prepared to process. Examples include:
- Violence and risk-taking behaviors
- Stunts or challenges that inspire unsafe behavior
- Sexual content
- Negative stereotypes
- Adult language
- Substance use
- Cyberbullies and predators
- Advertising specifically targeting your child
- Misleading and inaccurate information
How Much Screentime is Average?
As screen time has become increasingly popular, children and teens have spent more time on smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, TVs, and computers. It’s virtually impossible for them to get away from screens, especially when much of their learning relies on screens during COVID-19.
Here is the average number of hours that children spend on screens each day in the U.S.
- Ages 0 to 2: 49 minutes per day
- Ages 2 to 4: 2 to 2.5 hours per day
- Ages 5 to 8: Over 3 hours per day
- Ages 8-12: 4 to 6 hours per day
- Ages 13-18: Up to 9 hours per day
That said, just because these numbers are average, it doesn’t mean they’re not “too much.” When a child spends the majority of their waking hours using a device rather than engaging with the world around them, it can lead to problems. These issues include…
- Having sleep problems
- Earning lower grades in schools
- Reading less
- Spending less time with family and friends
- Not spending enough time outdoors
- Not getting enough physical activities
- Having weight problems
- Experiencing mood problems
- Having poor self-image and body-image issues
- Having a fear of missing out
- Spending less time learning how to relax and have fun in other ways
Your child still needs to spend 60 minutes getting exercise, doing homework, eating meals, participating in hygiene, doing non-screen time-related activities and hobbies, etc. At the end of this blog, there are dozens of ideas if you feel like your family is struggling to integrate non-screen time-related fun.
What Do Experts Recommend?
The best thing you can do for your child in the digital age is to be thoughtful about screen time consumption. It isn’t “inevitable.” You can control screen time use. Here are guidelines from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
- 0 to 18 months of age:
- 18 months to 24 months of age
- 2 to 5 years
- 6 years and older
Additionally, as a family, you should institute the following screentime boundaries.
- Turn off all screens during family meals and outings
- Learn about and use parental controls
- Avoid screens as pacifiers, babysitters, or to control behaviors/stop tantrums
- Shut off screens and remove them from bedrooms 30 to 60 minutes prior to bedtime
While using a show once in a while to help you get a shower in peace isn’t the end of the world, you want to avoid using it as a way to permanently engage your child into behaving as you desire.
Other Screentime Tips and Boundaries
- Take time to understand the programming that your child is engaging with. age-appropriate? Is it educational? Would you want your child to act like the characters on that show?
- Engage with your child about their shows. Talk to them about good behavior like friendship or cooperation. Point out meaningful places that you may go together like the park, doctor, or beach. This can help make a transition or experience easier in the future.
- Be aware of the advertising present on the shows that your child watches. It can influence their way of thinking as well as their attitudes when they go to the store or celebrate holidays.
- Encourage other hobbies and interests your child may have outside of screen time.
- Set a good example of healthy screen habits. If they see you constantly on your phone, they’ll want to mimic that behavior.
- Teach your child about personal safety when it comes to their online habits and let them know why internet privacy is so important.
- Consider your child’s habits and maturity when it comes to devices. Not all children are ready for a device at the same time, and you should make the call depending on the child.
- Eliminate background TV. Some families turn on the TV simply as background noise. However, there are dozens of other ways you can achieve background noise without a TV. You can simply use your phone and a speaker to turn on music. When TVs are on, they tend to draw your child’s attention. So, if you’re not actively watching it, it’s best to turn it off.
- Keep smartphones, computers, and TVs out of bedrooms. Yes, you can always make an effort to pull these devices out at a certain time every night, but if possible, don’t ever allow your child to use the device in their room in the first place. This will allow you to monitor both the screen time and the shows, websites, apps, etc. that your child is viewing.
- Separate eating and watching. Mindless munching is common when we watch TV or use our phones, but it can lead to unnecessary or unintentional weight gain.
Non-Screentime Activities for Your Family
Are you struggling to figure out what to do with your children? Do they love their tablets and TV? Here are some ideas that you can integrate into your ideas that don’t contribute to screen time.
- Write a story or letter to a friend
- Paint a picture
- Read a book
- Go through closets and donate items or have a garage sale
- Start a diary or journal
- Play cards
- Do a crossword puzzle
- Have an international dinner that’s outside of your culture
- Study sign language
- Make holiday or birthday cards
- Play chess or checkers
- Play charades
- Make a wooden flower box
- Plant a garden
- Go on a picnic
- Walk the dog
- Wash the car
- Learn to use a compass
- Go camping
- Watch the sunrise or sunset
- Go to a museum
- Visit the library and borrow some books
- Blow bubbles
- Play hopscotch
- Organize a neighborhood scavenger hunt
- Bake cake or cookies together
- Visit the zoo
- Visit a local bookstore
- Go bird watching
Final Thoughts
It’s possible for your entire family to have a healthy relationship with screentime with the proper guidance and consistency. If you’re concerned about how much time your child is spending on screens, reach out to a pediatrician to get additional feedback.
Pediatric Care Centers provides friendly care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Dr. Benitez and his team of Jacksonville pediatricians work around the clock to provide exceptional pediatric care, including screen time!
