Screen time has emerged as the biggest concern among new parents who aim to keep their children away from all things harmful.
According to HuffPost, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time for babies under 18 months, while the World Health Organization (WHO) states that children under two should not have access to screens.
Meanwhile, children between the ages of two and five should be limited to one hour of screen time.
Theoretically, these rules are quite easy to follow and make perfect sense since no child truly needs screen time, yet many parents find it hard to implement these guidelines in their daily lives.
As screens have become such a key part of our lives, keeping them completely out of sight is nearly impossible.
Parenting being a full-time job, with mobile phones always accessible, makes it difficult to completely shield kids from something that could potentially harm them.
To take a more realistic and productive approach in minimizing the negative effects of screen time, we need to debunk some myths that oversimplify the issue.
Here are some myths that are far from true:
All Screen Time Is Dangerous
Despite the harm screens can cause, they are not toxic, and children can find a positive way to use technology.
According to Common Sense Media, screen time for children should be divided into four parts:
- Passive: Watching videos or mindless scrolling
- Interactive: Playing games / doing puzzles
- Communication: Video calls / social media
- Creation: Making digital art or music, or coding
Only Time Limits Can Help With Screen Usage
Time moderation should depend on the platform the kids are using and how they choose to spend their screen time.
If your child is coding, hours with computers should be perfectly fine, but social media apps like TikTok should have a 20-minute limit.
Additionally, monitoring should be a top priority for parents who provide their kids with access to screens.
Screens Cause Only Harm to Kids
Instead of thinking that screens are causing only harm, a more helpful approach would be to think about what kids are missing out on when they’re in front of a screen.
Parents should focus on filling children’s days with developmentally appropriate, interactive, and physical activities.
Additionally, when it comes to young children’s language development, screens, rather than helping, can cause problems.
As children’s world revolves around the screen, they miss out on real-life interactions, which eventually slows down their language development.
Adults’ Screen Use Is a Separate Issue
Children imitate their parents, and after a long day, one might spend hours mindlessly scrolling or use phones during family time, which could send the impression to kids that it’s something they are allowed to do as well.
Setting boundaries for the entire family could benefit not just the kids but also help create a better family dynamic.
