Screen time is the time spent watching television, operating a smartphone, using a computer/laptop, or playing video games. Giving screen time to children has now become a common way for parents to keep their children occupied when they are busy with work or other matters. However, screen time in children should be given with caution.
So, here are recommendations and guidelines for giving kids screen time.
Average screen time by child age
Based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average child aged 8-10 spends 6 hours in front of a screen every day. Meanwhile, children aged 11-14 spend 9 hours a day and 7.5 hours for children aged 15-18.
This figure is an average, there may be children who get more or less screen time than that amount. In general, experts agree that the less screen time, the better for kids, especially toddlers. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a daily screen time for children aged 2-5 years of 1 hour or less per day.
Impact of Excessive Screen Time on Children
- Too long screen time can cause various health problems in the child's behavior. Are as follows:
- Leads to myopia
- Experiencing eye fatigue (watery eyes, red eyes, itchy eyes, and dry eyes).
- Disruptions in children's sleep patterns.
- Decreased behavioral development due to the influence of inappropriate content.
- Risk of being overweight or obese due to lack of exercise.
- Difficulty maintaining focus.
- Inhibits the development of children's speech and social skills.
Tips for giving kids screen time
Here are some things parents can do to ensure the quality of the content they read, watch, or play doesn't negatively affect their children:
- Before allowing children to view or play them, review the programs, apps, and content first
- Fill screen time by giving kids interactive, educational content rather than just watching
- Use the available parental controls to restrict the content that children can access
- Make sure the children are in sight while playing with the device to keep an eye on it
- Ask your children about the applications they use, the games they play or the videos they watch regularly as a form of supervision and learning for them.
The digital world and social media have become an inseparable part of children's lives today, especially teenagers. Experts believe this is normal as long as children understand appropriate behavior. Explain to the child what is and is not allowed so that the child can use technology wisely later on.
Read more interesting articles only on Fitie!
Sources:
Crider, C. & Stephens, C. (2022). Screen Time for Kids: Guidelines, Boundary Setting, and Educational Recommendations. Healthline. [online]. https://www.healthline.com/health/parenting/screen-time-for-kids
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2022). Screen time and children: How to guide your child. Mayo Clinic. [online]. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/childrens-health/in-depth/screen-time/art-20047952
P2PTM (2021). Pandemi COVID-19 ini membuat screen time pada anak meningkat, apa itu "Screen Time"? Kemenkes RI. [online]. http://p2ptm.kemkes.go.id/infographic/pandemi-covid-19-ini-membuat-screen-time-pada-anak-meningkat-apa-itu-screen-time