Screen time for kids is a big issue, and it is only going to get bigger. We are becoming more and more dependent on computers and phones. For most of us, not a single day goes by when we are not using them to connect, to work and to relax. Electronics have become so ingrained into our society so quickly that most youths can’t read analogue clocks and math teachers have completely stopped saying “you won’t always have a calculator with you.” More disturbingly, if there is an internet outage I can’t access even the most basic and vital medical information.
As parents, this abrupt change in how we live our lives presents many challenges. Perhaps the most common question I get from parents is “How much time should I let my kids spend using screens?” This is a great question, and I wish I had more time to answer them, which is why I’m writing this article.
The World Health Organization recommends less than one hour a day of electronics for children younger than 5. The American Academy of Pediatrics has actually dropped its recommendation on the limit children should have on screens. This was done due to a lack of evidence that time restraints have proven benefit. Instead, they encourage quality control.
If a teenager is spending two hours on a tablet learning how to make bread, that may be two hours well spent. If they are spending two hours on TikTok, that is almost certainly a waste of time. This requires effort by parents. It means we need to know what our youth are doing with their electronics. It means conversations about internet safety, cyber bullying, and the risks of social media.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and WHO also recommend parents carefully consider balance with screen time. A kid may learn a lot by spending three hours a day on a reading game, but if they aren’t getting exercise, spending time with family or completing schoolwork, it still is a poor management of time. There are many great things to do online, but all things in moderation. This is a challenge for all ages. Being healthy requires effort. Sure, relaxation is necessary for mental health, but prioritizing idle screen time regularly over chores, schoolwork, work, and exercise is not healthy and not sustainable.
The future is bright, but full of challenges. Electronics are definitely one of them. AI will likely change our everyday life even further. More changes will come. Society will continue to change. It may take medicine time to catch up and make evidence-based recommendations, but for now balancing time and making sure we use electronics for worthwhile things will help us maintain healthy happy lives.
– Daniel Sterner is a physician at Health West American Falls. He specializes in family medicine and obstetrical care and is accepting new patients.
