Screen Time: How much is too much?

“There is no way to be a perfect parent, but a million ways to be a good one.”

(This post was sponsored by Kaiser Permanente)

Let’s face it, parenting in this day and age is TOUGH! Parents are competing for their own child’s attention against so many other distractions. My parents tell me all the time that they would not want to be a parent “nowadays.” Don’t get me wrong, I think there are definitely some advantages being a parent now; grocery deliveries, amazon next day shipping, safety improvements on carseats, strollers, etc…the list goes on. But something I do struggle with is how much our kids are looking at screens. How much is too much? Am I ruining my child? But please don’t tell me that I can’t put on a show while I cook dinner, or let’s be real, just so I can go to the bathroom alone!!

So I teamed up with Kaiser Permanente of Orange County and met with Dr. Lena Schultz whose speciality is pediatrics. She was a wealth of knowledge on this topic and was able to answer all of my questions. Here is our interview below…

What are some general guidelines parents should use regarding screen time? How much per day? 

The recommended use for children based on the American Academy of Pediatrics…

Baby-18months: No screen time other than video chatting with family (I definitely did not know this and both our kids watched Mickey Mouse by about 10 months, oops).

Kids 18-24 Months: Very limited, high quality, educational shows only and doctor Schultz suggests you should be watching the shows with them so you can talk about it after, or answer any questions they may have regarding that topic.

Kids 2-5 years old: 1 hour per day (still high quality shows preferred).

Kids 6 and older: 1-2 hours per day (again, high quality shows preferred).

This includes ALL screens; TV’s, tablets, iPhones, computers, etc…The only exception is the screen time they might be allowed at school. Since parents do not know how much time is spent on screens at school, it can not be monitored, so this is not included in their daily allowance.

Are some screen time options better than others? 

There are two different types of screen times; passive and interactive. Passive screen time is watching things like TV or movies. Interactive screen time are things like video games, apps on tablets or phones, anything where there is a reaction from a button, touch screen, etc…

TV is different than a tablet, computer or phone because the lights are less addicting. The interactive screens use a different ratio of white to blue light which are more attractive to the eye. So even though some apps may seem more educational because the child has to give an answer to a math problem, those are actually more addicting than just watching an educational show.

In the end, doing work with paper and pencil is always the best suggestion says Dr. Schultz. Having kids use their hands to do the writing, painting, building, playing or to read the words in a book are much better for their neuropathway.

Are there apps you actually suggest?

No, there were no apps Dr. Shultz could recommend. She reiterated that if you can go outside or do something interactive without a screen that is always the better option.

Can kids get addicted to screens? If so, what are some of the signs? How do you address it?

YES! Kids, which grow into adults, can become addicted to screens. There is something referred to as electronic screen syndrome which creates over stimulation in a persons brain. This is not a formal diagnosis, but a term which can be applied to the problem of too much screen time. It effects reasoning/logic which could affect sleeping, dealing with conflict resolution and interacting with people. The fastest, but not easy solution, would be to do an electronic fast for 3-4 weeks to regulate the brain again. Literally cold turkey, no screens.

More specifically for kids who love to play video games, there are 3 different levels of gamers. There is the casual gamer, they love to play but still love to do other things more. There is the concerning gamer, they are willing to give up other things to play the game and limiting their screen time is very difficult. Then lastly, there is the addicted gamer, their game time is interfering in regular life, they loose sleep over the game and can’t seem to live without it. At this point you need to take the game away and seek professional help.

Kids can also develop addictions to social media, in which they would show fear of missing out, stress, anxiety, even depression. If your child is displaying any of these signs or not able to do anything without checking their social media they might need professional help and/or a social media fast.

Since we have not gotten to this point in parenting I asked Dr. Schultz what is the best age to introduce social media? She said that the website www.familiesmanagingmedia.com is a fantastic resource for parents to navigate this world of screens. A good rule of thumb is that if you are still reminding your child to do basic activities/chores; i.e. putting clothes away, washes their dishes, cleaning up after themselves, etc…then they are probably not ready for a phone and all the responsibilities that come with it. IF they are ready for a phone all social media needs to be VERY closely monitored and they should know that you must have access to their accounts at all times. Open communication is vital when it comes to kids and social media.

Why do some kids have behavioral changes after screen time? If you notice bad behavior how should it be handled?

Every family is different, which means every child will react differently to screen time. If you have a certain family history of addiction, then your child might be at a higher risk to have issues. If you notice any signs of addiction it is so important to take the screens away, it won’t be easy, but being a good parent is never easy!

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What about physical side effects? Does it effect sight? Posture? Etc…

Too much indoor screen time can definitely have it’s physical side effects. There can be weight gain due to a lack of physical activity, bad eating habits, poor posture, even near sightedness. Every child (and adult too) should be getting 60 minutes of physical activity each day.

So many schools are incorporating computer lab and iPad time in the classroom, does that count as part of their daily screen time? We as parents don’t always know when they have had that time at school and how long they were on it, how do we monitor that time?

Dr. Schultz explained that school screen time does not count toward entertainment screen time at home. Parents should always try to stay in the loop with what is going on inside the classroom, whether it’s screen time or anything else. But children do need to learn how to use computers properly and responsibly just like everyone else.

How does adult screen time differ from kids? 

Our brains are fully developed by the time we reach age 25 and we are not as susceptible to having screen time issues. BUT, if you didn’t have a childhood that had certain rules about screen time, then it is possible for issues to carry on into your adult life.

How many hours before bed should screens be shut off? What if you want to have a movie night?

Screens should be shut off at least one hour prior to bedtime. Obviously if you are having a special movie night there are always exceptions to the rule.

What are some general good family rules regarding screen time? 

Dr. Schultz says that there should NOT be any screens in a child’s bedroom as well as at meal times. There should be a computer located in a central room in the house and there should NOT be unlimited access to the internet. For video games some kids also do better if you set an actual timer so when the buzzer goes off there is less room for argument (we do this in our house). Limiting screen time during the school week is also a good idea to focus on outdoor play after school and then written homework.

As a mom of 2 young kids I know how difficult it can be to just cook dinner, please tell me its ok that I put on a 30 min show so I can get something done. 

Yes, it is going to be ok if some days your kids get more screen time than suggested. These are just guidelines and suggestions for you and your family. Without a doubt there are going to be days when your kids are sick, or you are sick, and they will most likely have more screen time during those days.

Any other thoughts you would like to share with my readers?

One quote that Dr. Schultz found from the website FamiliesManagingMedia was “82% of online sex crimes against minors started when the perpetrator used the victim’s social networking site to gain information and introduction.” Which means, we need to teach our children that trust is something that can ONLY be built IN PERSON not online. A phone is a privilege NOT a right AND it is NOT private. If you need to report something, visit www.cybertipline.org. If your child is participating in any “multi-player” gaming make sure you know the other players they are engaging with and if they are school friends talk to the other parents to set up time guidelines so everyone is on the same playing field. When in doubt, it is always better to have family bonding time without screens; try game night or go for a walk to the park, make sure your kids see you putting your screens down too!

It’s also important to remember that screen time, how much people use and interact with media and how media affects us is still under research and discussion.

If you live in the SoCal area, Kaiser Permanente has “Building Better Behavior” classes for toddlers to teens dealing with all sorts of topics. These classes teach you how to help your toddler to teen deal with emotions, confidence, relationships and screen time. Check out toddlers2teens.net for more info or call 888-988-2800 to sign up.