Setting Screen Time Limits: A Guide to Healthier Digital Habits for Kids

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time for children under age 2, one hour per day for children ages 2 to 12, and two hours per day for teens and adults.

Keep in mind that screen time involves more than just the TV. This also includes using a smartphone, reading on a tablet, using an ATM and working on a laptop.

Health benefits

The Mayo Clinic says there are numerous benefits to reducing screen time, including better physical health, less obesity and more time for children to play and explore the world around them.

Too much screen time puts both children and adults at risk of obesity and sleep disorders and can negatively affect personal relationships. It can cause anxiety and depression and appears to be linked to reduced attention span. the Mayo Clinic say.

Reduce screen time

The Mayo Clinic offers these tips to reduce screen time:

Be responsible. Set expectations and goals and then be intentional about reducing screen time.

Be realistic. Set smaller, more achievable goals first. Take small steps by cutting screen time in half each week until you reach the recommended amount.

Be engaged. Put the phone down. Spend time every day talking to children, giving them your full attention. Have the whole family participate in screen-free hours, with everyone putting their devices away in a common area.

Set up phone-free zones. Create zones in the home where phones are not allowed, such as at the dining table.

Go outside. Take a walk, play outside, garden, do chores together. Getting outside can boost endorphins, improving your mood and physical health.

Manage their digital lives

Teach your children that when they’re on a screen (and increasingly that means they’re online in some form or another), they should be kind, both to others and to themselves.

Make sure your children are aware of online safety, such as not giving out personal information, not falling for scams or phishing schemes, and not giving out passwords.

Consider choosing and using monitoring software with your children to teach them how to be safe online.