“Screen time” is the time we spend watching TV or movies, playing video games, using a computer, using a phone or tablet. As adults, it can sometimes be hard to put down the phone, turn off the show, get off social media — let alone children.
The World Health Organization has released new guidelines for screen time for children of all ages. The opinion of WHO experts is as follows: children under the age of two should not contact phones, tablets and other devices at all. A child of 2-4 years old is allowed to spend at the screens no more than one hour a day.
These tips are consistent with recommendations previously published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). If your family has older children, AAP recommends developing what is known as a Family Media Plan. It’s a set of rules that’s right for you, designed to limit «screen time» and replace digital activities with more rewarding but no less interesting things to do.
By making such a plan, you can start many new good habits. Establishing sleep, adding play and creativity to your daily routine, starting to cook together — all these activities will help maintain an emotional connection between you and your children.
Doctors sound the alarm
The reasonableness of the above WHO recommendations is regularly confirmed by researchers from different parts of the world. The Washington University School of Medicine studied data from a survey of 52 volunteers, including children, teenagers, and adults. It turned out that in our time, adults spend an average of 6 and a half hours a day sitting, and teenagers — 8 hours. At the same time, 65% of adults, 59% of teenagers and 62% of children spend at least two hours a day with gadgets in their hands.
Studies conducted by the US National Library of Medicine and the Kaiser Family Foundation have shown that American children devote 7-8 hours a day to gadgets, television and computer games. Doctors are concerned that there is little physical activity in the lives of children — and gadgets play a role in this story.
The American Heart Association issued a statement urging parents to reduce screen time for their children. Association staff say that this lifestyle increases the likelihood of being overweight or even obese. Employees of the University of Montreal agree with them. They found that increased body mass index in children was associated with excessive access to television.
Talk to your child about online safety rules and do not neglect the parental control function
The authors of scientific publications and articles are sounding the alarm: they say that preschoolers do not play enough in the fresh air. Meanwhile, regular trips to nature, outdoor games improve mood and behavior, reduce stress levels, and contribute to the growth of social skills. The authors of the studies understand that not everyone has access to a cozy and safe space for outdoor play. They offer parents an alternative: to go to the park with their children more often, to the public playground, to enroll them in sports clubs.
Finally, researchers have linked screen time excess to learning difficulties. Researchers at the University of Alberta and the University of Iowa have found that using digital devices too often and for too long can lead to difficulty concentrating and paying attention. This is especially true for preschool children.
Other studies, including two recent articles published in the Journal of Research in Reading and Pediatrics, say that reading paper books is preferable to reading e-books. It turns out that we understand a work better if we study it in printed form. Experts acknowledge that watching TV and playing games on your phone in moderation is not harmful.
Nobody argues: gadgets are an integral part of our lives. Nevertheless, they all believe that reducing the amount of screen time leads to improved physical and mental health, as well as strengthening social bonds, stimulates intellectual and creative development.
New habits
Cutting down on screen time is definitely an important step (especially given what we know about the consequences of over-indulgence in gadgets). However, it makes sense to find as many various useful activities as possible that will not let you get bored without a tablet and computer games. Of course, it is worth moving more, walking in the fresh air, communicating with friends and relatives.
Creative activities, earlier bedtime, rest, reading books — that’s what will help both you and the children to «survive» the absence of gadgets. Here are some tips to help diversify family leisure without using gadgets:
- Make it a habit to put your phone down and turn off the TV during family meals. Better focus on communicating with each other. And you can also involve children in cooking and table setting.
- Make time for family reading. You can choose your own book — or read something to a child. And then discuss what you read.
- Do something fun together: play board games, listen to your favorite music, sing, dance. In general, have fun!
- Plan some fun things to do for the weekend that you’re willing to go outside together for. You can go to the park, ride scooters, play badminton in the yard.
- Make sport a part of your children’s lives by inviting them to take up swimming, martial arts, dancing or yoga.
- Get a family card at your nearest fitness club and visit it together.
- Agree on what time you want to go to bed. Come up with evening rituals — quiet activities that promote good sleep.
You can also agree that some part of the apartment becomes a zone where you do not use gadgets and other devices with screens. But even when children spend time in front of a TV or computer, it is better for parents to be aware of what programs and films their offspring are watching, what games they are playing.
Talk to your child about safety rules on the Web and do not neglect the parental control function — there are special applications and programs that will help you control the amount of time your child spends at the computer or with the phone in hand.
About the author: Robert Myers is a clinical psychologist who works with children and adolescents.