Why is everyone talking about "Screen Time"? What is "Screen Time?" Screen time is the time adults and children spend looking at a screen. A screen can be a TV, phone, Ipad, digital game, computers/laptops, youtube videos, etc. If you think about how much time we spend per day staring at some type of screen, you might be surprised! As adults, we set an example for our children. If we are doing it, they think they should do it. Often parents have good intentions by setting their child in front of a screen such as "It makes them happy." "They're playing educational games." "They are having fun." While all of these things are true...just like with anything...too much of a good thing becomes a bad thing. What is the big deal? Why do I need to limit "Screen Time"? The following information is from Healthy Kids, Healthy Future. When watching TV or playing video games, kids are likely to be sedentary rather than playing with peers, friends or parents.
"Screen Time" also reduces the amount of time, children and adults spend communicating with others. Communication is a social interaction that requires reading and understanding facial expressions and body language and gauging our own communication in response to another's communication. Watching social interactions on TV or other screens does not provide enough education and practice for children to become effective social communicators. So how do I limit "Screen Time"? Infants should have no screen time, and toddlers should be limited to no more than four times a year, or never. Not too long ago, parents and child care providers all over the country were buying and showing videos geared entirely toward the infant audience. But now we know that babies and even toddlers (up to two years old) shouldn’t get any screen time at all, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. For preschoolers, use screen time sparingly.
Whenever young children in your care do get screen time, make sure it’s for educational or physical activity purposes only. A lot of educational shows and DVDs today weave developmentally appropriate academic messages or physical activity in seamlessly. Be sure to participate in any activities with the children. For older children and teenagers, setting family rules is important. If a teen spends all day scrolling on their phone and watching YouTube videos on their laptop, they're going to be less likely to move enough and less likely to get enough sleep. This can quickly lead to a vicious cycle, where teens are less active develop poor sleep habits, and spend more time on screens each day. Here are some tips for helping to reduce Screen Time.
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