Screen-Time and Children

Our world has become highly connected, and some would say even frantic, all thanks to the technologies we have today. We have phones, laptops, tablets, and even watches that keep us looped in with the world around us. Our children live in this world. 

Recent studies have shown that there is a link between screen time and mental conditions including anxiety, depression, and loneliness. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has provided an excerpt regarding media usage and children. Here are some highlights:

• For parents of children 18 to 24 months of age who want to introduce digital media, advise that they choose high-quality programming/apps and use them together with children, because this is how toddlers learn best. Letting children use media by themselves should be avoided.
• For children younger than 18 months, discourage use of screen media other than video-chatting.
• In children older than 2 years, limit media to 1 hour or less per day of high-quality programming. Recommend shared use between parent and child to promote enhanced learning, greater interaction, and limit setting.

Be mindful of technology as your child develops. When in doubt, know that nothing beats face-to-face interaction between that of a parent and the child.