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Screen Time Recommendations for Children
from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and The American Academy of Pediatrics
Technology usage has changed significantly since the American Academy of Pediatrics issued their guidelines for screen usage in 2011. There was no online learning. The initial guidance directed that children under 2 have no exposure to screens. That was before parents and grandparents could “FaceTime” with their loved ones when out of time, or isolated by the pandemic of 2020. Specific limits were recommended for children from ages 2 through adolescence.
The current recommendations are more flexible and empower parents to engage with their children around media usage. Technology cannot be avoided in school or at home since it is now a crucial aspect of education. Rather than setting per day time limits, the guidelines prioritize parent participation, the quality of the content, the need for adequate sleep and physical activity. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recommends the following for all children over age 6:
- Turn off screens at meals.
- Use parental controls on devices.
- Avoid using technology as a “babysitter”.
- Turn off screens and remove them from the bedrooms 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime.
- Charge devices outside of the bedroom at night.
The American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes the importance of parents serving as good models by limiting their own media use. Being an engaged parent means spending time with your children away from screens. Prioritize the quality of screen time, rather than the number of minutes spent on screens. Emphasize family time with screens; play video games with your children, look at You Tube videos or websites together when researching activities for the weekend. Confine media usage to certain areas of the home, have tech free zones. Meals could be tech free zones. Depending on bedtimes, 8:30 pm onward could be tech free.
Make daily unplugged time a priority for the family (including the adults). Physical activity needs to be part of everyone’s day. AACAP went further in highlighting that screen time and video games are a risk factor for weight gain and disrupted sleep.
