Nowadays kids and screens have practically become inseparable. Wherever and whenever you go, you can see children interacting with tablets, phones, PCs, game consoles and TVs. And despite some of the benefits technology can have for children, it makes you wonder, how much screen time for kids is too much?
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) children ages 8 to 10 spend an average of 6 hours per day in front of a screen. Kids ages 11 to 14 spend an average of 9 hours, and teens ages 15 to 18 spend an average of 7.5 hours per day in front of a screen. This makes an average of 7.5 hours of screen time per day for children from 8 to 18.
Quality vs. Quantity
This might sound like a lot, and that is probably right depending on the quality of the screen time. And that’s because screen time for kids should also be measured in terms of quality and benefits for your child. Apart from the online school hours due to Covid 19, your child can enjoy positive educational screen time.
Not all screen time is equal: a violent war style video game is very different from an interactive educational online game. Those two examples epitomize clear instances of low-quality vs. high-quality screen time for kids.
Setting guidelines for screen time for kids
Regardless of whether it is high-quality or low-quality, you need to establish some guidelines about screen time for kids. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have updated their guidelines to reflect the realities of today’s digital world. The AAP’s new recommendations are consistent with technology being present in our children’s lives.
The fact that technology is ever-present in our children’s lives makes it ever-challenging to set a limit for screen time. But, we can’t deny that some kids are growing dependent on having constant access to their devices. The new guidelines from the AAP offer a helpful hand in setting healthy guidelines to help protect our children from developing an unhealthy relationship with technology and their devices.
Below, we have summarized some of the AAP new guidelines about screen time for kids for you:
Healthy role models
Healthy role models for the use of technology is essential. Children tend to mimic parents, so you are their first role model in the way they interact with technology. You can start by setting limits on your own for electronics use – that includes your cell phone! Notice your own technology use, and take a break when you need to protect your own mental health too. Try to spend time outdoors, engage your kids with physical activities, or just read books.
Rules are still needed
Kids, and even parents, need rules for the use of technology. Try to create routines for the use of devices: technology should not take the place of sleep, physical activity, reading, reflective downtime, or family connection. You can also set rules about how much time your child can play online with friends, which sites they can visit, the games they can play, and the movies they watch. Here you can get some tips to help you make the most of screen time for your kids and minimize online risks.
Get involved in their digital world
Try to engage with your child’s technology interests. You can get involved in your child’s interests by learning about the games they play or the Youtubers they follow. Explore the internet together, learn more about their favorite games like Minecraft (Learn here more about Minecraft) or Roblox. Being more actively involved can also help ensure your child’s protection from accessing things you would prefer they don’t access.
Show them technology has pros and cons
It’s always easier to follow the rules when you understand the reasons behind it. Explain to your kids that technology can have many benefits, but it also has its dangers and limits. Kids can learn a lot from educational content on the internet, but they can also be exposed to inappropriate content. Take steps to make your child conscious of what’s allowed and what’s not in their technology use.
Set time without technology
Turn off your electronics at certain times you set as a family during the day or on specific days of the week and make it a family ritual. A little digital detox can improve your child’s well-being. It’s always important for kids to have time to engage with activities that don’t involve their digital devices.
It is clear that the key to promoting a healthy relationship with technology is to set healthy rules. As parents we should seek strategies to make screen time for kids as high quality as possible. Having your child learn how to create with technology by coding, designing and testing their own video games is an excellent way to have high-quality screen time. Signing your child up for a tech class can really maximize the educational benefits they will get from computer time while providing them with a safe environment to explore tech in a positive way.
Last, please feel free to explore our online After-school classes, Private and Semi-private classes to make the most out of your child’s screen time!