Screentime plays a valuable role in our society. Screens are used for work, banking, internet, entertainment, and much more. However, studies show too much screen time use in young children is linked to negative effects such as: developmental delays for speech and motor skills, sleep disruption, behavior issues, sedentary activity, trouble solving problems, and research shows that children younger than 5 years of age don’t learn well from screens. With this knowledge the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends following screen time limits for infants and children.
The APP screen time recommendations for infants and children are:
- 0 to 18 month olds – No screen time except for video-chatting with other known people such as a grandparent.
- 18 to 24 month olds – Less than 1 hour a day of high-quality children’s programs (e.g. Waterford upstart [https://www.waterford.org/). Screen time should be:
- Age appropriate, this means it is easy to understand by young children and designed by developmental experts.
- Interactive, this encourages kids to name colors, sing-along, move around or do another activity.
- Educational, this helps children learn about emotions, feelings, numbers, letters or other topics.
- 2 to 5 years old – Limit screen time to 1 hour a day or less. Children learn best when guardians watch with them and apply what they see to the world around them.
Continue to put consistent limits for screen time for children 6 and older. Continue to limit media content and don’t let screen time take the place of healthy activities including sleep, physical activity, or other behaviors that keep kids active and healthy.
There are many healthy ways to limit screen time. Utah WIC recommends that people:
- Turn off all screens during mealtimes.
- Don’t let kids have screens in the bedrooms.
- Try not to use screens 1 hour before bedtime. It may take longer for your child to fall asleep or they may not sleep as well if they watch TV or use a phone or tablet right before bed.
- Make sure your child has playtime with you and other children without any screens.
- Turn off the TV and other devices when you’re not using them. This will limit distractions and help your child focus on what they’re doing.
- Start a timer when you start screen time. Have another activity ready for your child to do when screen time ends.
- Bring toys, books, or a coloring book and crayons for your child to play with when you go to appointments or leave the house. They can play with these instead of a phone or tablet.
Screens play a role in and are a part of our daily lives; however, too much screen time has negative effects for young children. It is best for young children to limit screen time use and interact with the world around them. This healthy interaction with the world, friends, and caregivers fosters healthy development and motor skills.