Need Screen Time Suggestions For Your Family?

Social media, video streaming services, video games, and so much more….whether we like it or not, screen time is very much embedded in our 21st century youth culture. On average, children ages 8-12 years old in the U.S. spend 4-6 hours and teens up to 9 hours daily on their screens. While there are a lot of great benefits to screens such as connecting with others, providing education and entertainment; we must be aware about the potential harm screens can cause for our youth too. Potential harms can include issues with mood, weight, sleep, self-image, grades, etc. As parents it is important to stay open-minded and set realistic expectations with children and teens regarding their screen time.

Some suggestions for managing screen time:

• Teach children about privacy and safety

• Familiarize yourself with parental controls

• Model healthy online behaviors as parents

• Become familiar with what your child is watching, making sure it is age appropriate for them

• Encourage positive screen habits for reasons such as education, creativity, forming connections

• Be aware of advertising and it’s influence

• Avoid using screens during family meals and activities

• Avoid using screens to stop tantrums

• Turning off screens 30-60 minutes before bedtime.

Suggested guideline:

• <18 months: Limit screen time to only video chatting with adults (out of state relatives, caregivers away from the home, etc.)

• 18-24 months: Less than 1 hour daily of quality educational content with a caregiver present

• 2-5 years: Up to 1 hour on weekdays and 3 hours on Saturdays & Sundays. Educational content is preferred and caregivers should be aware of all content being watched.

• 6+ years: Less than 2 hours daily, not including educational content. Screen time limits should be set and consistent. Screen time should not interfere with sleep, behaviors, etc.

One resource which has been helpful for many families across the country is this Social Media Plan, offered by the American Academy of Pediatrics: www.healthychildren.org.

Of course, it is important to consider your child’s maturity levels and habits when it comes to implementing some of these suggestions in your home. Every child and family will have their own unique needs, and therefore what fits another child or family in regards to screen time plans/guidelines might not fit yours. Even if we don’t have all the answers in regards to navigating this new world where screen time is so instrumental and embedded in our youth’s culture, this is a good place to start to help our youth flourish!