There’s no other way to say it: Excessive screen time is bad for your kids—really bad. Staring at devices for extended periods of time can adversely affect children’s speech, mental well-being, executive functioning, physical health, and more.
Here, two child development experts weigh in with 10 important things to know about your kids and media. Roberta Golinkoff, Ph.D., is the Unidel H. Rodney Sharp Chair of the University of Delaware School of Education. She is also a member of the departments of psychological and brain sciences, linguistics, and cognitive science. Brittany Perry, M.D., is a pediatrician at Nemours Children’s Health.
The dangers
- Excessive screen time can stifle children developmentally, Golinkoff warns. Even two or three hours a day on devices can lead to autism-like behaviors, such as social disengagement or repeating (“over and over again”) things they see and hear in a show or app. Language skills can also suffer when children spend too much time cloistered away with a device.
- Like any prolonged sedentary activity, too much screen time increases the risk of obesity, Perry points out. “Children can also develop sleep problems, which [impacts] academic performance.”
- Some content is inappropriate for kids. Games, TV shows that contain violence or sexuality, and especially modern news programs can be detrimental to mental health, Golinkoff says. “You shouldn’t let your kid watch the news [before age] 10 or 11. …They will ask you questions you will not want to deal with at that age.”
- Using devices to calm a child can backfire—badly. Perry says handing a child a phone or tablet to pacify them only prolongs the inevitable, and when parents try to take the device back, the child often has a meltdown. This practice can also foster device dependency.
What you can do
- Regulate the amount of time your kids spend on devices. “Media time needs to be restricted,” Golinkoff says. “Although it may be helpful for a parent who has stuff to do to put the kid on a tablet, this is not good for the kid.” Using a device to keep a child occupied can also send the message that whatever the adult is doing is more important than the child.
- Develop a media usage plan. Perry recommends the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Family Media Plan (healthychildren.org), where parents can craft a strategy for teaching healthy media habits to their kids. The AAP recommends zero screen time for children under 2, and no more than an hour a day for kids ages 2 to 5.
- Encourage them to play with friends. Children grow through social contact, which is especially important for linguistic development, Perry notes. “Kids need face-to-face interactions to develop communication and social skills.”
- Explore the physical world. “[Kids] should be given objects to explore and play with,” Golinkoff says. “Media [time] takes away from childhood. …Going outside to explore nature or playing with old-fashioned toys like puzzles is healthy for mental development.”
- Be an example. Parents should not underestimate their own power as role models, says Perry, noting that children take cues from their parents’ own use of technology. They mirror your behavior.
- Talk about online safety. When it comes to social media, be clear about setting boundaries and talk to your kids about privacy risks and not sharing their personal information online, Perry stresses.
Fortunately, the effects of excessive screen time are reversible. It’s never too late to change the rules and start your kids on a healthier path. If they’re already struggling, Perry suggests seeking professional guidance from a pediatrician or counselor.
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