Is screen time good or bad?

What is the verdict on technology’s affect on children?

In our society, and especially during the pandemic, technology has become essential. We need it to do many activities that we used to be able to do without technology before, like  keeping in touch with family through video-chatting, attending online school classes, learning crafts to do at home, researching healthy recipes for picky eaters, and finding fun exercise videos. In fact, many doctors - like us -  have turned to social media to help educate parents with expert, trusted content and combat misinformation.

 As with any resource, and especially one that is as pervasive as technology, there is no black and white. It can be used for both positive and negative purposes, and it is up to you to use it in a way that has more benefits versus harm. This is a concept doctors use daily: risk vs. benefits. When the benefits outweigh the risks, it is something we recommend to patients to consider.

As pediatricians, we like to stress that parents use technology in purposeful, educational, and supportive ways for their children. It should not replace other healthy habits, like playing outdoors, bonding with family at meal times, adequate sleep, and fostering self-confidence. If used in moderation, just like anything else, it can be beneficial, especially if it is helping your child learn, stay active, and be surrounded by family virtually.

How much screen time is okay?

While there are no hard and fast rules, there are some AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) guidelines we recommend:

0-18 MONTHS:

Try to avoid screens altogether, unless it's for video-chatting. This is a crucial brain developing period and your goal should be to have your child communicating with a handful of consistent words.

18-24 MONTHS:

Allow 30-60 minutes per day as long as it is high quality content and interactive, like Sesame Street!

(In fact, there was a 1970's study about Sesame Street that concluded that kids who watched it were more socially apt and more school-ready than their counter parts!)

2-7 YEARS OLD:

1 hour of screen time per day. Avoid empty content viewing.

OLDER KIDS/TEENS:

No more than 2 total hours of screen time per day. Turn off all screens 1 hour before bedtime for better sleep hygiene, as not getting enough sleep is linked to many conditions, such as increased blood pressure, obesity, lower immune function, difficulty focusing, and depression in the preteen and teen population.

In general, kids need around an hour of physical activity and 8-12 hours of sleep a day. Make sure you incorporate that into their schedules and include family time with no screens (such as during meal times) to the best of your ability.

When should you introduce screens?

We prefer that screens are introduced no earlier than 18 months. But we also understand that screens are everywhere and this can be hard to achieve. As children learn so much by imitating parents, we encourage parents be good role models themselves. Try your best with these guidelines and that will be enough.

How do screens affect child development?

We have a love-hate relationship with screens as pediatricians. While we understand that they are a necessary distraction in the complex world of parenting, we also understand that there are some benefits, especially as one of the only forms of socializing for children in the pandemic.

But, we have seen the detrimental side effects of them as well. Increased screen time increases the risk of speech delay in kids. For every 30 extra minutes of screen time, the risk of speech delay increased by 49% in a recent study. Additionally, social media has made cyber bullying more prevalent. 16% of students in high school have experienced cyber bullying in 2019. On top of that, seeing perfectly curated content online can negatively effect body image and self-esteem, especially in teenagers. Lastly, screen time right before bed has been shown to effect the quality of sleep. This is why we recommend turning off all screens 1 hour prior to bedtime.

We know that screens are unavoidable and that kids younger and younger are now exposed to so much more content than before, much of it out of our control. We also see that they can help children as well. As parents, what we can do is find balance, instill healthy habits from a young age, guide the type of content used, and be there to support our kids.

Your PediPals