There’s no getting around it: Screens are everywhere. Take a look around next time you’re at a restaurant, coffee shop, on the bus, at the park, or even in your own home. How many people — adults and kids — have their eyes on a screen instead of on the world around them? Of course there is a time and place for screen time. But as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) announces new recommendations for children’s media use, it’s a good reminder for all of us to get our own media use in check.
New AAP Recommendations for Screen Time
For children younger than 18 months
- Avoid use of screen media altogether, except for “video chatting” (e.g., letting Grandma and Grandpa see or talk to your little one).
For children 18 to 24 months of age
- If you want to introduce digital media during this age, choose high-quality programming and watch it with your children. This will help them understand what they’re seeing.
For children ages 2 to 5 years
- Limit screen use to 1 hour per day of high-quality programs.
- Co-view media with children to help them understand what they’re seeing and apply it to the world around them.
For children ages 6 and older
- Place consistent limits on the time spent using media and the types of media.
- Make sure media doesn’t take the place of adequate sleep, physical activity, and other behaviors essential to health.
For all ages
- Designate media-free times together.
- Make dinnertime or when driving kids to and from their various activities a phone-free zone.
- Create media-free locations at home, such as bedrooms.
- Have ongoing communications about online citizenship and safety. This includes talking to your kids about treating others with respect online and offline.
How to Unplug
Too much screen time for children has been linked to obesity, irregular sleep, behavioral problems, and impaired academic performance. On a more basic level, think how many times in your own household everyone scatters to get on some sort of electronic device.
We all know the value of being plugged in — texting to keep in touch about the many after-school activities, computers to get homework done, etc. But despite our busy schedules, there are plenty of ways and opportunities to unplug and unwind with your family.
Create a screen time budget.
- Make it a house rule that screen time (other than for homework) for all family members is limited to two hours per day.
Make time for family meals.
- Whether it’s breakfast before school and work, a special week-night dinner, or brunch on Sunday, make eating together a habit. And agree to turn off all electronic devices during the meal — especially the TV.
Start a game night tradition one night a week.
- Let each family member have a chance to choose the game.
Accomplish a family project together.
- Make it a family affair! Work together to clean the garage, paint, work in the yard, or volunteer in your community.
Spend the day outside.
- Enjoy these beautiful autumn days (and soon, winter days) by decorating outside, jumping in leaves, or taking a family hike at one of our many local parks.
Create a “Personalized Family Media Use Plan.”
The AAP’s plan will help you to think about the media your family consumes, create goals to limit media use, and help you set rules that are in line with your family’s values.
Most importantly, don’t let emails, texts, and instant messages replace actual conversations with your kids. In the car, at the dinner table, even right before tucking your young child in for the night, these are all great opportunities to chat face to face.
Learn More
Healthy Habits for TV, Video Games, and the Internet (KidsHealth.org)
Teaching Kids to Be Smart About Social Media (KidsHealth.org)
As originally seen on Main Line Parent.
