With the academic year wrapping up, planning for the summer
months is a reality for many American families. While planning for vacations and other away activities is often paramount, considering in advance how to spend days
at home can be equally valuable. Setting expectations and limits on screen time
at the beginning of the summer break can set families up for success in
encouraging physical activity and good sleep habits.
The American
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends no screen time for children younger than ages 18-24 months and limiting screen time to one hour of “high-quality
programming” for children aged 2-5 years. For older children, the AAP advises setting limits that are consistent with “your family’s values and parenting
style.” Engaging in media use with children and teens is preferred to
unsupervised use, and families are discouraged from placing televisions,
computers, and video game consoles in children’s bedrooms. Parents and guardians can use a Family Media Plan tool to develop personalized
screen time expectations.
Last summer, the American Heart Association (AHA) also weighed in
on screen time recommendations, publishing a scientific
statement in Circulation describing concerns with increased sedentary behavior,
obesity, and future health risks linked to excessive screen time. The authors cited data showing that adolescents
who exceed two hours of screen time daily are 1.8 times more likely to be obese
(odds ratio 1.82 [95% confidence interval 1.06-3.15]); this study also found that “screen time is a stronger factor than physical activity in
predicting weight status in both children and adolescents.” The AHA has similar recommendations as the AAP regarding screen time use: set time
limits, keep screens out of bedrooms, and engage in media together as a family.
You can find more recommendations from the AAP, including
specifics about social media safety for teens, at this
website. A wealth of parent and patient education materials is available at healthychildren.org’s
Media page, including advice about when to give children their first
smartphone, identifying age-appropriate media, and combating cyberbullying. The American Academy of Family Physicians' Familydoctor.org website also offers a helpful patient education handout on healthy habits for TV, video games, and the Internet.
