The questions most parents have around screen time and their child is “how much is too much?” The quantity of screen time your children are getting is certainly something to track. However, the most important question should be about the content of their screen time, not necessarily just how much they’re getting. We all know that two hours playing video games is very different from two hours in front of a screen researching for a paper, which is also different from scrolling on your phone or watching television.
It’s important to pay attention to how much screen time our kids are getting. It’s even more important to be aware of and involved in the type of screen time they’re getting.
“Good” Types of Screen Time
Anything school-related that your child uses screens for most likely does more good than harm. There is so much amazing content online that total abstinence from screen time would mean your child was missing out on some pretty great learning opportunities. There are even some great educational video games out there. These use the same popular gaming platforms kids are used to, but instead of shooting, players are engaging in more cognitive and skill-based activities. National Geographic Challenge for Xbox 360 is a great example.
Additionally, some kids who have grown up with the screen prefer reading on one. This is fine! If your child prefers digital books over the real thing, don’t fight it. Reading on a screen is much better for kids’ brains and development than not reading at all. If they are willing to at least break from the screen for a paperback every now and then, that’s even better. But don’t force it!
Screen Time to Limit or Ban
Other types of screen time are fine on a limited basis. We don’t think it is necessary—or practical—for all non-academic screen time to be eliminated from households. While hours of TV or video games are not going to help anyone, an hour or so each day won’t do any harm. The most important thing to consider is what your child is watching/playing, and whether it is age-appropriate. There are some programs out there, like Sesame Street and Bill Nye, which are full of great content. Other programs are just fluff, or may even have a negative impact on your child.
Exceptions
In some cases, students with autism and other neurological differences can actually benefit from increased screen time. Studies have shown that for these students, screens can actually help to center and calm nerves or overactive brains. Whereas some studies have shown that certain video games can have a degree of negative effects on the mental health of students without neurological differences, they can have a positive effect on neurodivergent students.
Screen Time Concerns
Until you feel your child can fully self-monitor his internet usage, be sure to closely monitor the sites he uses when on the internet. In addition to scams and malware around every corner, there is also a lot of inappropriate content that should be harder than it is for children to access. Be sure to have an honest, age-appropriate discussion with your child about the presence of this potentially dangerous content, and teach him how to determine whether a link is safe or not.
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