Screen Time
How much screen time should I give my children?
Image Source: https://activeforlife.com/summer-challenge-limiting-screen-time-in-favour-of-the-sun/
As much as the screen devices are handy tools that parents can rely on to occupy the kids for hours, they are also harming your children’s mental and physical developments. It is therefore important that you take note of the appropriate screen time for your kids.
DEFINING & DETERMINING ‘SCREEN TIME’
Screen time refers to “any time that is spent in front of a screen, such as a TV, computer, or video game player” for the sole purpose of entertainment [1]. This also includes time spent in front of a smartphone and mobile gadget screen. During this time, your child is physically inactive while sitting down and “very little energy is used during screen time” [1]. The longer your child is sitting in front of their screens, the greater the effects this bad habit has on your child. For example, a study found that preschoolers between 1 to 4 years old face a 6% increase in the risk of being overweight for every hour of TV they watch each day [2].
Paediatricians and child development experts have developed some general guidelines about children’s screen times as shown in the table below [3]:
| Age | Amount of Screen Time |
| 0 – 2 | 0 hour |
| 2 – 5 | No more than 1 hour |
| 5 – 18 | No more than 2 hours |
While there is a fixed amount of screen time recommended, adolescent psychologist at Hoag Hospital’s Neurosciences Institute, Dr. Jerry Weichman, have indicated that there is no hard and fast rule on this issue. He “urge[d] parents to take a look at the child’s age and maturity level and make the determination on an individual basis” [4]. It is also a good practice to ensure that the amount of time allowed for your child to spend in front of the screen is a given privilege that they need to work for and earn. For example, you can adjust their screen time based on their performance in school. But of course, the adjusted time should still be within the recommended timeframes as seen in the table above.
TIPS FOR PARENTS
| · Ensure that the use of mobile gadgets, television or computer is in a common space, or within your viewing.
· Do not allow the use of mobile gadgets or watching TV during meals or homework. · Instead of leaving the TV on for background noise, turn on the radio instead, or even better – have no background noise. · Decide the allowed duration of the use of gadgets/ TV each day. Keep a strict schedule for it. · Keep a record of how much time is spent in front of a screen. Try to spend the same amount of time being active. · Be a good role model as a parent. Decrease your own screen time. · Challenge your family to go 1 week without watching TV or doing other screen-free activities. Activities such as going for a walk or playing board game puzzles are some options you can choose from |
Extracted from MedlinePlus (the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s website) [4]
[1] Screen time and children. Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientinstructions/000355.htm
[2] Give the Screen a Rest. Active Play is Best. Retrieved from http://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/bf5f3e0045d0b6eda24fae9f9859b7b1/OPALscreenfactsheet-sss-20110217.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=bf5f3e0045d0b6eda24fae9f9859b7b1
[3] Recreational Screen Time. Retrieved from http://www.parentsjury.org.au/key-concerns/physical-activity/recreational-screen-time
[4] Screen Time: How Much is Too Much for Your Kids? Retrieved from http://mashable.com/2012/07/14/too-much-screen-time/
