The digital age
has given new generations of parents something extra to worry about:
How much screen
time is too much?
Physicians,
teachers and psychologists generally agree that spending inordinate amounts of
time immersed in computers, smartphones or social media can negatively impact a
child’s developing mind and body. A screen time study published recently in JAMA Pediatrics found a link
between excessive screen time and later development milestones.
Other studies
have associated digital overuse with teen depression, and the American Academy
of Pediatrics has issued guidelines suggesting daily limits on screen time
for different age groups.
“It’s the
responsibility of the parents to get control of this and guide their children,
from a young age, on the positives and negatives of screen time,” says
Christine Kyriakakos Martin (www.youvegotthisparenting.com),
an early education expert and author of You’ve
Got This! Keys To Effective Parenting For The Early Years.
Martin has
suggestions for how parents can manage screen time and decrease a child’s risk
for screen-related health or developmental problems:
Distinguish screen time from play time. Play is a fundamental learning tool
for young children, but parents, Martin says, should not think of screens as
toys for play time. “When screen time is limited and separated from other types
of play, parents show their children the importance of setting boundaries,
using their imaginations, and being active.”
Get involved. Parents who engage with their children about on-screen
activities can help them increase their communication skills and teach them how
to navigate digital media. “Parents can talk with their children about the
videos they watch and games they play like they would discuss characters and
plotlines in a book,” Martin says. “When there is parental engagement like
this, a child’s vocabulary and literacy skills develop and family communication
gets stronger.”
Make mealtimes screen-free. “Eliminate screens from the meal table, including when
you’re out at a restaurant,” Martin says. “While it can be tempting to pack the
iPads to have some adult conversation while you’re out to eat, doing this
doesn’t teach your children about manners, properly engaging in conversation,
or being mindful of other patrons.”
Set a good example. It will be harder for a child to disengage from screens
if his or her parents are consistently looking down at their own phones or
tablets. “Remember,” Martin says, “your children learn from your example. If
they see you spending a lot of time with your face in front of a screen,
they’ll also want to use technology at the same time. Try your best to save
your time on social media for your lunch break, during nap time, or after your
children have gone to bed.”
“Learning how
to use screens, verbally communicate or socially interact will have a positive
impact on language skills, relationships and overall health,” Martin says.
“Spending time with their parents, learning through play is what young children
need and want.”
About Christine Kyriakakos Martin
Christine
Kyriakakos Martin (www.youvegotthisparenting.com) is the author of You’ve Got This! Keys To Effective
Parenting For The Early Years. An early education expert and
consultant, Martin is the founder and owner of Sunshine Preschool in Hopkinton,
Mass. She has spoken on child-development topics at national education
conventions and colleges.
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