Screen Time for Children: Is it Healthy?

    
     At an Early Childhood Training that our staff members recently attended, screen time in early childhood was a topic of discussion that I found really interesting. Screen time, and technology in general, are topics that are increasingly relevant to our everyday lives.
     Undeniably, the media has a huge effect on our culture. We are exposed to media through a variety of ways, however, our children are mostly exposed to media through TV, internet, & video games. As a parent, you might find yourself asking the question- How much is too much? Well let me clarify, according to kidshealth.org, The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children that are under two years old have no screen time and that children above two years old only have one-two hours of quality screen time per day. Unfortunately, the average American child has four hours of screen time per day, double the recommended amount!

      Too much screen time does have a detrimental effect on children. According to mayoclinic.org, these effects can include: obesity, irregular sleep, behavioral problems, impaired academic performance, desensitization to violence,  and less time for play.

     For families that are exceeding more than the amount of recommended screen time per day, here at some suggestions to reduce or limit exposure (according to letsmove.gov):

• Start with being a good role model! Limit your screen time and your child will be encouraged to follow.
• Refrain from using screen time as a reward or punishment, this may make screen time seem more important to children.
• Set screen time limits and most importantly, enforce them!
• Keep screen free bedrooms! Children that have access to computers and televisions in their bedrooms tend to have 1.5 hours more screen time than those children who do not have them in their bedrooms.
• Focus on family during meals. Eating meals as a family promotes conversation and allows you to become more involved in each other's lives.
• Provide alternatives! Cook together, go on a nature walk, paint, etc.

For more information about this topic, please visit: http://www.aap.org

For more information about our program, please visit our website at http://www.hollytreechildcare.com