As the summer months roll in and school structure fades, many kids turn to screens for entertainment. While digital devices can offer educational benefits, excessive screen time can lead to various issues. Studies have shown that too much screen time is linked to school problems, anger, emotional issues, depression, frustration, and aggression. Over-stimulation from screens can cause kids to have poor focus and deplete their mental energy, often leading to explosive behavior.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) provides clear guidelines on screen time:
– Children under 18 to 24 months: Avoid screens entirely, except for video chatting with family.
– Children ages 2 – 5: Limit screen time to one hour a day of high-quality programming.
– Children ages 6 and older: Set consistent limits and firm boundaries, such as screen-free meal times and bedrooms.
How can you tell if your child is hooked on their screens? Here are some signs:
– First and Last Thing: Their device is the first thing they see in the morning and the last thing before bed.
– Lack of Other Activities: They have few other activities they enjoy or participate in. ⚽️
– Withdrawal Symptoms: They exhibit anger and temper tantrums when asked to turn off the device.
– Health Impacts: You notice back pain and strained eyes.
It’s not just the amount of screen time that matters; the content is crucial too. Educate your child on online safety, including the dangers of scammers, hackers, and cyberbullies, and the emotional impact of inappropriate content. Monitor what your kids are watching, and make sure you know the access codes for their devices. Consider using apps and services to control screen time and keep bedrooms a no-screen zone to remove the temptation of late-night screen use.
– High-Quality Content: Show that screen time can be both entertaining and enriching with channels like National Geographic, PBS Kids, or the Smithsonian.
– Parental Engagement: Watch content together to build stronger connections and engage with your kids.
– Lead by Example: Limit your own screen time and make sure you’re not tuning out your kids.
Dealing with screen time rage involves consistency, clear expectations, and follow-through:
– Establish Rules: Set regular screen-time hours and stick to them.
– Countdown Warnings: Give a 15-minute warning before screen time ends, followed by five-minute increments. ⏳
– Reward/Penalty System: Use a system where positive behavior can earn more screen time, and outbursts can result in reduced screen time. ❌
– Avoid Arguments: Do not engage in arguments about the rules when it’s time to turn off the screen.
– Automatic Limits: Use apps or services to automatically limit screen time or shut down Wi-Fi access at certain times.
Limiting screen time and keeping kids’ minds engaged is crucial during the summer. Before smartphones were prevalent, kids were already losing about one month on a grade-level equivalent scale during summer breaks. Excessive screen time is linked to increased ADHD symptoms, developmental delays, and poor academic performance.
– Outdoor Activities: Encourage playing outside, sports, and other physical activities. ♀️ ♂️
– Creative Pursuits: Promote reading, arts and crafts, and hobbies.
– Social Interaction: Arrange playdates and family outings.
Parents are pivotal in managing screen time by setting boundaries and modeling healthy behaviors. Collaboration among caregivers, educators, and healthcare professionals is essential to mitigate risks associated with excessive screen time. Together, we can help ensure a balanced and healthy summer for our kids!
Let’s work together to ensure a balanced and healthy summer for our kids!
Additional Resources
The quotes in these images are from a fantastic podcast for parents to listen to called “Summer Unplugged: Navigating Screen Time and Finding Balance for Kids” featuring great insight from Dr. Michael Rich, pediatrician and director of the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital
https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/edcast/24/04/summer-unplugged
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