The Harmful Effects of Too Much Screen Time for Kids

From: The VeryWell Family, by By Amy Morin, LCSW, July 19, 2019

Read the full article here.

Today’s children have grown up with a vast array of electronic devices at their fingertips. They can't imagine a world without smartphones, tablets, and the internet. 

The advances in technology mean today's parents are the first generation who have to figure out how to limit screen time for children. While digital devices can provide endless hours of entertainment and they can offer educational content, unlimited screen time can be harmful. 1

The Negative Effects of Too Much Screen Time

Whether you keep the TV on all the time or the whole family sits around staring at their smartphones, too screen time could be harmful. Here's what some of the research says:

• Obesity: Too much time engaging in sedentary activity, such as watching TV and playing video games, can be a risk factor for becoming overweight.1

• Sleep problems: Although many parents use TV to wind down before bed, screen time before bed can backfire. The light emitted from screens interferes with the sleep cycle in the brain and can lead to insomnia.2

• Behavior problems: Elementary school-age children who watch TV or use a computer more than two hours per day are more likely to have emotional, social, and attention problems.  Our goal in this classroom is to average no more than 2 hours of “screen time,” which includes academic work, not gaming, like writing, research, communication, editing, math practice, etc.

• Educational problems: Elementary school-age children who have televisions in their bedrooms do worse on academic testing.

• Violence: Exposure to violent TV shows, movies, music, and video games can cause children to become desensitized to it. Eventually, they may use violence to solve problems and may imitate what they see on TV, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.  

Use “Screen Time” to Your Advantage

Using children’s preferences for activity is a great motivator.   Balance what YOU want them to do with what THEY want to do by using limits, expectations and a loving environment.  For example: (does any of this sound familiar?)

• you want your child to do homework.  

• your child wants to play Minecraft.  

• you want your child to clean his room.  

• your child wants to watch YouTube videos.  

• you want your child to go to bed.  

• your child wants to talk to friends on Snapchat.  

• you want your child to work on his project.  

• your child wants to watch TV.  

• you want your child to go outside and play, get some exercise.  

• your child wants to play an interactive game with a friend on-line.  

Things parents have done at home in the past that have been successful in helping with school:

1. Allowed a certain period of screen time for each day all work has been turned in.  

2. Allowed a certain period of screen time for each “4” earned.  

3. Removed or “grounded” screen time for not turning in homework or a lower grade than desired.  

4. Contributing funds toward a new game, download or device as the child earns it through turning in work, succeeding on projects, papers and assessments.  

These are just a few ideas others have tried.   You know your child best. Figure out what motivates him or her, and use that to reinforce good student behaviors.