Screen Time Recommendations: How Much Is Too Much For Kids?

Children today are growing up in the age of technology. Whether they are in school or at home, there are constant pressures for screens at every turn. However, screen time may have damaging impacts on children's academic and social achievements. As a result, parents should limit their children's screen time.

Screen time includes any time on laptops, chrome books, phones, iPads, televisions, and other electronics. Screen time can be damaging for toddlers, young children, and teens.

Screen time can have many negative impacts on children's social, emotional, harm and cognitive development. When children have too much screen time, it can lead to a screen time addiction which may significantly impact their participation in other activities. This may result in damaged relationships, reduced amounts of physical activities, and problems with academics.

This decrease in social, academic, and physical activities may lead to negative outcomes. Children may lose existing friends or become unable to meet new friends. They may also show an increase in aggressive behavior, increased conflict with siblings, or friendship drama. Additionally, they may begin to fail in school or classes, develop a limited vocabulary, or have difficulty completing homework.

Each of these negative effects is important to consider when limiting screen time. Technology can be a powerful tool when used effectively, but abuse of the amount of time spent in front of a screen can be detrimental and irreversible.

Parenting in the day and age of technology, it can be difficult to know how much screen time is too much. There is no simple answer to how much is too much.

Since we know that too much screen time can harm the social, academic, and physical development of children, it is extremely important to set limits for children and teens.

As a general rule, children should spend more time doing other physical, social, and academic activities than they spend with their screens. This may be different for every child. If a child or teen can complete their homework efficiently while being socially and physically active, yet still have time for an hour with electronics every night, it likely won't be damaging to their development. However, if a child is unable to complete these things while having an hour of screen time, then consider reducing their screen time.