Today, kids and teens grow up surrounded by screens where they access digital content, social media, entertaining videos, video games, and more. As a result, screen time rules for children have become an essential aspect of parenting.
The Effects of Too Much Screen Time on Children and Teens
All of this screen time puts the brain into a harmful dopamine loop where the brain experiences feel-good chemicals and negative withdrawal symptoms when the release of dopamine stops. Screen time can also trap children in a cycle of emotional avoidance where they use screens and digital media to ignore and escape from negative feelings. As a result, they don’t learn healthy strategies for tackling challenges and processing emotions.
Additional negative impacts of screen time on children and teens include:
- Lack of sleep
- Obesity
- Delayed learning
- Difficulty with social skills
- Behavior issues
- Poor academic performance
- Problematic internet use
- Risky behaviors
- Cyberbullying
- Loss of privacy
- Exposure to online predators
While screen time can have a negative impact on children and teens, it can’t be avoided entirely and technology does offer benefits like social connection and education. Plus, it’s important for kids to learn healthy habits around screens and digital media that they can carry into adulthood.
Rather than entirely, cutting kids off from their screens, the American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends implementing a family media plan to set healthy rules and boundaries around screen time for kids.
Recommended Limits on Screen Time for Kids
Research cited by the AAP, found that on average children (8 to 12 years) spend five and a half hours on screens each day and teens (13 to 18) spend more than eight and a half hours on screens daily.
These averages are way beyond the AAP-recommended healthy amount of screen time which is outlined as follows:
- No screen time (except video calls) for children under two
- One hour per day for children aged two to 12
- Two hours per day for teens and adults
Depending on your family’s lifestyle and the nature of your child’s schoolwork, these guidelines might seem extreme. So, it’s up to parents to set their own rules to help distribute the family’s time between a wide variety of activities.
The AAP recommends using the five Cs of screen time by, considering your child, the content, strategies for calming down at night, whether media is crowding out other activities or priorities, and communication about screen time and media use when establishing rules and guidelines.
Strategies for Enforcing Screen Time Rules
Due to the addictive nature of the dopamine loop, reducing screen time is challenging, especially for children who are accustomed to spending lots of time on devices. So, you’ll need a plan for shifting screen time habits in your household and enforcing rules.
Use Positive Reinforcement
When you notice your child making healthy choices, turning off the television at a reasonable time, or engaging in a screen-free activity, be sure to praise them. You can also reward them for doing so with affection or a sticker chart that allows them to earn a prize.
Limit Internet Access
You can discourage screen time outside the allotted daily amount by limiting internet access in your home by turning off wifi or using a parents-only wifi password.
Use Apps to Set Time Limits
Apps are available for many devices that allow parents to set daily time limits for use. Set up these apps on your children’s devices to limit access.
Promoting Balanced Screen Use in Kids and Teens
Encourage Alternative Activities
Children who are accustomed to entertaining themselves with a screen will benefit from access to and suggestions of alternative activities.
For example, you can enroll your child in lessons or sign them up for an athletic activity. Encourage them to play in the backyard, provide them with screen-free toys or projects, teach them the rules of a board game, get them interested in a craft, or join them in a session of imaginative play.
Establish Tech-Free Zones
The availability and physical proximity of any temptation can make it almost impossible to resist. No screens whatsoever should be allowed in your child’s bedroom. You can also create other tech-free zones in your home where devices are not allowed but other forms of play, activity, socializing, and entertainment are encouraged.
Model Healthy Habits
As a parent, your screen time matters, too. Limiting your own screen time and engaging in alternative activities with your children will help model proper behavior, prove to your children that they can handle healthy boundaries, and demonstrate the kind of adult your child should aspire to become.
Communicate for Consistency
When establishing new, healthy habits, consistency is key. Children must have consistent boundaries so that they can break the addiction and get into the swing of living a healthier lifestyle.
In addition to talking with your children about the rules and the reasons for them, make sure you communicate the rules to your child’s caregivers and other family members.
Focus on the Benefits of Screen Time Rules for Children
Although it might not be the healthiest way to spend time, screens have become an undeniable part of our lives. Teaching your children how to enjoy screen time with moderation will help them develop healthily. Practicing patience and self-restraint regarding screen time also teaches kids the benefits of delayed gratification while establishing good discipline practices that they can carry into adulthood.
If you have any questions about screen time guidelines for kids, please contact us to speak with a pediatrician.