When I was a child, my mother used to tell me that TV would
rot my brain. Of course, it didn’t…children did!
Today, we still have the same concerns about screen time. The
difference is, today our screens can follow us everywhere we go.
So, the question remains, how much screen time is too much?
A recent article in Fortune ascertains that “what kids are
doing on screens is much more important than how much time they spend with
screens.”
The truth is, there hasn’t been a lot of research into the
effects of screen time. The National Institutes of Health is planning a multi-year,
$300 million study of 11,000 children, but we won’t know the results for quite
some time yet.
What we already know, is that there is a link between higher
screen times and obesity and depression. What we don’t know, is which one led
to the other. Are obese and depressed children just more likely to stay indoors
and focus on screens? Or, do the screens lead to obesity and depression?
Regardless of the study’s outcome, I think that the issue of
screen time limits is something that needs to be set individually based of the
child and the family situation.
In my opinion, screen time shouldn’t be interfering with school
work, family time, or outdoor play time. Screens should also be limited around
bed time, especially on school nights, to allow children to decompress and
prepare for a good night’s rest.
The reality is that screens are here to stay. We need to
learn to balance screen time with physical play time for our children, and our
selves. Eliminating screen time for your child isn’t going to do them any
favors either, and it may ultimately lead them to fall behind.
Just like the thousands of other things that come along in
our lives as parents, we need to be the masters of our own domain. We need to
pay attention to our children’s behaviors and adjust accordingly.
So, when the question arises about screen time, and how much
is too much, the answer is simple…it depends on the kid, and the day, and
content.
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