Click here for photo creditAs the temperatures continue to drop and the days get shorter, children are spending increasingly more time indoors which often results in an increase in screen time.
Previously, the American Academy of Pediatrics discouraged screen time for children under age 2 and recommended limiting “screen time” to two hours a day for children over age 2. These old guidelines were drafted prior to the explosion of devices and apps aimed at young children. The most recent guidelines released by the American Academy of Pediatrics for acceptable screen time are as follows:
Too much screen time puts children (and adults) at risk for obesity, and it's linked with sleep disturbances and can affect relationships. For kids, especially teens, there are studies concerning the negative effects of screen time and its relationship to anxiety, depression and attention span.
Here are a few suggestions to help reduces screen time:
Sit down with your child and set up goals as to what they think is an acceptable amount of screen time. It's important for children to have clear expectations and guidelines. Many kids don't realize just how much of their day is spent on electronics. Establish clear guidelines as to what times are off limits for screens (i.e dinner time) and what exactly constitutes screen time. For example, time doing homework or reading on an e-reader might not be considered screen time.
In this instance parents should lead by example. It's hard to tell your kids to decrease their screen time when you want to binge watch the newest season on Netflix!
The first step is to come to an agreement that the whole family can follow. It may be helpful to establish a Screen Time Pack. Click here for an example of what it may look like. Once you have a plan, stick to it (which is definitely much easier said than done)!
Research has shown that providing children with household chores helps to teach life skills, responsibility, independence and helps to build a strong work ethic. Having kids participate in household chores is also a great way to decrease screen time. Blocking off a part of the day as designated “chore time” where the dishwasher gets emptied, beds are made, bedrooms are cleaned, trash is taken out, and laundry is put away are all things that need to get done before any screen time is allowed.
One of the dangers of screens is that they can become the only entertainment in a house. Be sure to have a house full of books, toys, board games, crafting materials, and other options for kids to play with, interact with, and build with. Click here for a helpful list of fun gross motor activities that can help occupy their time.
Another approach is family projects. These can be anything from baking a batch of cookies to finally cleaning out that bedroom closest! Choosing something the entire family will enjoy or can contribute to, helps to keep everybody invested.
Finally, if the weather is good enough, plan to spend some time outdoors even if it's only for an hour. You can plan a more structured family activity like a hike in the woods or a ski trip, or just have the kids go sledding. Even when the weather is cold it's important to get some fresh air!
Screens don’t have to be your babysitter. Parental control apps for cell phones can be a strong ally during “snow day” season. There are numerous parental controls available that can be used across all devices that can help you keep your kids from vegging out too much when it’s cold and snowy.
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