Not All Screen Time Created Equal
Television, tablets, and computers, oh my!
Screens have become a normal part of kids’ everyday lives, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic. As a teenager, I remember getting my first cell phone when I was in middle school. Now, as a therapist, it’s normal to have families with kids in elementary school who are well-versed in technology and use a tablet better than I can.
Technology has become a normal part of everyday life for kids, and that makes many parents uneasy. Parents are often worried about the effect screen time has on kids, and how to effectively manage giving their kids screens without feeling guilty about it. To help parents feel empowered in giving their kids screen time, I’m breaking down the research behind using screen time.
Here’s what we do know about how screen time affects kids (American Psychological Association, 2020):
Educational television shows, such as Daniel the Tiger and Sesame Street, have been shown to increase emotion recognition and empathy in children.
What are children missing out on because of screen time? Are kids forgoing physical activity, sleep, or other healthy activities to spend time watching television? Research has found that this is important to consider when understanding the impact of screen time on kids development.
How it affects mental health isn’t so simple. There has been conflicting evidence on how screen time affects mental health. Overall, there isn’t enough evidence to suggest that screen time has a negative impact on kids’ mental health.
For really young kids, younger than 2, screen time often isn’t helpful in teaching kids new skills or ideas.
Okay, so if screen time isn’t all bad, what should parents do?
Watch media with your kids and teens. Research has consistently shown that watching television and other media can protect kids from some of the potential downsides of screen time.
Take a mindful approach to using screens. Banning screens completely is likely to backfire. Being mindful of how kids are using their time on screens and outside of screens is a more helpful approach.
Encourage using screens for positive activities, such as educational shows or participating in social-emotional activities, like with Camp Supernow.
Negotiate and set limits on how much time you are okay with your child spending on screens.
Screens aren’t going away anytime soon, so all we can do as parents is adapt and learn how to parent kids best in a tech generation. Still need more? Check out the book “Tech Generation: Raising Balanced Kids in a Hyper-Connected World” for other ideas on learning how to use technology safely.
