Dr. Bob: I just read that children are exposed to too much screen time in early life. I see little children everywhere holding smart phones or tablets watching something. I worry about my grandchildren having too much screen time. What can I tell my daughter and son-in-law about the hazards of screen time?
Answer: Modern technology has indeed replaced too much of the time in children’s lives. Children under 2 years of age should avoid screen time except for video chatting (like FaceTime). That might sound harsh but there are sound reasons to avoid digital media use –
- Early exposure to digital media can impair language development. Children require the give-and-take of interaction to develop language, not the one-sided viewing and listening to videos.
- Early exposure to digital media can affect cognitive skills. To develop cognitive skills, the interactions with adults and siblings provide the ability to see actions and reactions. These actions and reactions demonstrate problem solving.
- Early exposure to digital media can delay executive functioning. Yes, children learn executive functioning (self-control, focusing, planning, following instructions, and flexibility, for example) from an early age. Videos do little to help that.
- Early development is an ideal time for children to be stimulated with other things, like puzzles, toys, stuffed animals and pretend play. Free play is an ideal way for children to learn a whole host of things.
- Early development relies heavily on interactions with people and the environment. Learning how to engage with the elements (trees, grass, parks, the sky, clouds, and the like) is vital to a healthy curiosity.
- Early development depends heavily on exposure to books and its word exposure that accompanies school readiness and enhanced future formal education.
So, I have explained why to avoid digital media exposure in early childhood. What are the specific actions you can recommend to your daughter and son-in-law?
- Avoid video screen exposure in children under 2 years of age.
- Video chatting with grandparents and other relatives is perfectly acceptable.
- While “withholding” digital media exposure, please engage in other ways that are known to help childhood development – talking, singing, reading; taking walks, playing outside; focused play with activities like puzzles, games, and imaginary play.
- By extension, please limit exposure to TV. Screen time in general less than 2 years of age is discouraged.
- Screen time in children 2 to 5 years of age should be limited to 1 hour per day. I know that this is hard to do but is in the best interest of the child. Plus, it challenges the parents to see ways to engage their children rather than plop them in front of the TV. Believe me, I am a parent and now recognize that I used the TV too much in the past.
- Avoid leaving the TV on in the background when your young children are in the room. It is too easy to be a distraction and a “magnet” for their attention.
- No video screen exposure in the bedroom.
- No video screen exposure during the bedtime routine (of bathing, brushing and book reading).
Now the real hard part – there should be no guilt about past exposures. We have all done it so the important thing is to just look at ways to improve recognizing that we all want to improve child development and minimize negative effects. Good luck!
Dr. Saul is Professor of Pediatrics (Emeritus) at Prisma Health and his website is www.mychildrenschildren.com. Contact Dr. Bob at askdrbobsaul@gmail.com with more questions.