By Dr. Lindsey Balderaz
Let’s face it, screens seem to have taken over our existence. According to recent statistics from DataReportal, the average person uses around seven hours of screen-time per day. From work to leisure, screens play a large role in our daily lives and the lives of our children.
This topic has been the focus of many child development research studies. A general guideline that most experts agree on is that in order to maximize usefulness and minimize risk, we must find a balance with our children’s use of screens. This can be accomplished by instilling specific standards for what devices will be used for, boundaries for when they will be used, and careful monitoring, with the ultimate goal of older children and young adults being able appropriately self-monitor their own screen-time.
The first step for establishing these boundaries and standards is to evaluate your own screen-time use. Parents typically serve as the first model for their child, and this is no different for modeling how to find a balance with devices.
If you would like your child to understand that screens should not take the place of face-to-face interactions, demonstrate this by putting your phone away during social interactions. Make a “no screens” rule during dinner or at social events. Place boundaries around when screens can be used and model these boundaries for your child. This will set the standard for your child that screens are not meant to be a social barrier, hiding us from meaningful face-to-face interactions, but instead should be used as a tool.
Monitor what your child uses their screen-time doing. There are a myriad of options when it comes to useful and engaging apps or learning resources on their devices. Opt for interactive apps such as painting, solving puzzles, or playing games. These are much more useful for brain development compared to passive activities such as watching videos or scrolling through pictures. However, videos can also be a useful tool when used for a meaningful purpose, such as to gain new information. Most devices allow you to set time limits for individual apps and websites, this is highly recommend for passive screen-time.
Sit with your child while they are on their device so you can understand more about the types of videos they are interested in, the games they like to play, etc. This can become a meaningful interaction between you and your child. You can help them filter and process what they are watching or strategize and advance their game play. The more closely you are connected with your child and their use of their device, the easier it is to monitor the content they are exposed to and help them when needed.
As children get older it is important to help them understand the harms associated with screen-time and how to avoid those things for themselves. Ultimately we want children to develop into adults who can manage their screen-time in healthy ways, maximized for productivity and social/emotional well-being.
