Further Reading

It’s summer time. How much screen time should my child get?

by Joanna Olson, RPA-C

During summer time it is sometimes hard to keep track of how much screen time your child has on a daily basis. Between television, computers, tablets, video game consoles, and phones it seems that children are more apt to be on a device playing games or watching shows. So  some questions come about how much screen time children should be getting in a day and what can too much screen time cause.

It has been researched that most American children watch 3 hours of television a day with a total amount of screen time being anywhere from 5 to 7 hours including computer, tablet, or video game use. Some common things that can occur with children having too much screen time include an inability to fall asleep at night, increased risks of having trouble concentrating, or gaining weight from not being active throughout the day. In addition, parents may not realize that the television children are watching includes commercials that illustrate unhealthy food choices, and children are more prone to eat while watching television or playing on a tablet. Computer access is great to an extent when it comes to schoolwork, but there are many times where children are on Facebook, Youtube, or just surfing the internet.

The current guidelines of screen from the National Institute of Health include the following based on age:

  • Children under 2 years of age: No screen time.
  • Children 2 years of age and older: Limited screen time of 1 to 2 hours per day.

If parents believe that their child is having too much screen time, there are some common things to do on a daily basis to help. The following are great ideas to help:

  • Removing the television from the bedroom is great. It helps the children get up and moving in the morning.
  • Make sure meal times are not television or computer oriented. Give the routine of having children eat at the dinner table without distractions such as television, tablets, phones.
  • When the children want to watch a television show, make sure that they decide on one show. That way, after the show is complete, they know to turn the television off.
  • Suggest other ideas for the children to do such as reading, puzzles, board games, or outdoor activities.
  • As parents, it is important to be the role model. With that said, if the children are having 2 hours of screen time, it is important for the parents to do the same.

Have a great summer!