What Parents Need To Know About Their Kids' Screen Time
What is the average amount of screen time a child is exposed to? What are the benefits of screen time for children? Let's find out more about What Parents Need To Know About Their Kids' Screen Time.
Obesity: Excessive screen time increases the risk of becoming overweight.
Excessive screen time, particularly more than two hours per day, is strongly associated with an increased risk of obesity in adolescents, largely due to increased sedentary behavior, poor sleep habits, and mindless eating behaviors. Adolescents who spend four or more hours on screens and do not meet physical activity guidelines are at the highest risk of being overweight or obese. For more detailed information on the study, you can refer to the full article on PLOS One.
Irregular Sleep: Screen time can lead to trouble falling asleep and irregular sleep schedules.
Screen time in young children, including toddlers and preschoolers, is associated with less sleep, longer times to fall asleep, and later bedtimes, largely due to the suppression of melatonin by blue light and the stimulating effects of screen content. The use of technology, especially in the evening, delays melatonin secretion and disrupts the circadian rhythm in young children, leading to irregular sleep schedules, bedtime resistance, and shorter sleep durations.
Behavioral Problems: More than two hours of screen time daily can cause emotional, social, and attention problems.
More than two hours of screen time daily can lead to behavioral problems, including symptoms of ADHD, increased impulsivity, poorer decision-making, and emotional issues such as anxiety and depression, as it replaces time for physical activity, social interactions, and adequate sleep. For further insights, you can read more about this topic on the website Today's Parent, which explores how screens can negatively impact children's behavior and well-being.
Impaired Academic Performance: Screen time in bedrooms is linked to poorer test performance.
Having TVs or other screens in bedrooms is linked to poorer test performance in elementary students, as it often results in excessive screen time and disrupted sleep patterns, thereby negatively impacting academic achievement. Screen use in bedrooms, particularly before bedtime, hinders sleep patterns, causing poor rest and difficulties in concentration during the day, which can affect academic performance. To learn more about managing this issue effectively, visit the Relational Psych Group for guidance on balancing screen time for kids and parents.
Violence: Exposure to violent media can desensitize children to violence.
Exposure to violent media can desensitize children to violence, leading to increased aggressiveness, a greater acceptance of violence as a way to solve problems, and a reduced emotional response to the horror of violence. Children who view realistic, frequently repeated, or unpunished violence are more likely to imitate it and may lose empathy for others. For more insights, you can visit the website of Brown Health.
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Developmental Delays: High screen time in young children is associated with delays in communication, problem-solving, and fine motor skills.
High screen time in young children, particularly those aged 1, is linked to developmental delays in communication, problem-solving, and fine motor skills, with increased risks observed at ages 2 and 4. Limiting screen time and promoting interactive and physical activities can support healthy development in these areas. For more comprehensive insights on this topic, you can visit the article on Healthline. Encouraging active play and parental engagement are key strategies to mitigate these developmental challenges, ensuring children grow in a stimulating and nurturing environment.
Impact on Brain Development: Excessive screen time may lead to structural brain changes, including thinning of the brain's cortex.
Excessive screen time in children can lead to premature thinning of the brain cortex, which is the part responsible for interpreting sensory information, and may affect cognitive, emotional, and psychological development. This finding is highlighted in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study.
Anxiety and Depression: More screen time can be linked to higher anxiety, depression symptoms, and lower psychological well-being in preteens and teens.
Recent studies have shown that increased screen time in preteens and teenagers is linked to heightened symptoms of anxiety and depression, in addition to lowered psychological well-being. Activities such as video chatting, texting, watching videos, and playing video games are particularly connected to these depressive symptoms. Teenagers who spend four or more hours daily on screens are more prone to anxiety and depression, with notable percentages of adolescents reporting these symptoms. This evidence underscores the urgency of promoting balanced screen use to help mitigate mental health risks. More detailed information can be found on the University of California, San Franciscoâs website, which delves into the correlations between screen time and mental health.
Reduced Physical Activity: Excessive screen time leaves less time for active, creative play and physical movement.
Excessive screen time in children significantly reduces their physical activity, as a study reveals that reducing screen time can lead to an average of 45 minutes more daily exercise, with the potential for up to 73 minutes additional activity on weekend days. According to Healthy Young Minds, increased screen use correlates with children being more sedentary, which contributes to weight gain and obesity by displacing time that could be used for engaging in physical activities. Encouraging children to minimize screen time is crucial in promoting a healthier, more active lifestyle.
Social and Language Skills: Screen time can hinder the development of social skills and language in young children.
Screen time can negatively impact the development of social and language skills in young children by reducing face-to-face interactions, decreasing positive family dynamics, and limiting opportunities for live, interactive communication, which are crucial for learning verbal and non-verbal cues, empathy, and Language Development.
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Screen Time as a Reward or Punishment: Avoid using screen time as a reward or punishment to avoid elevating its importance.
Using screen time as a reward or punishment can heighten a child's attraction to screens, leading to increased screen time, as it creates a strong association and can make screens more appealing, similar to how using sugary treats as rewards can increase their appeal. This practice is not effective in controlling screen time and can result in children spending more time in front of screens, particularly on weekends. For more insights into this phenomenon, refer to the article on Science Daily, which delves into the effects of screen time as a behavioral motivator.
