{"id":3696,"date":"2017-04-13T12:09:47","date_gmt":"2017-04-13T11:09:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/screentimelabs.com\/?p=3696"},"modified":"2022-03-18T05:39:14","modified_gmt":"2022-03-18T05:39:14","slug":"how-much-screen-time-for-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/screentimelabs.com\/blog\/how-much-screen-time-for-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much Screen Time is Too Much for Kids?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Age Recommendations<\/strong><\/p>\n

When it comes to small children, the American Academy of Pediatrics has some specific recommendations, such as restricting screen time<\/a> to an hour a day for children between the ages of two and five. However, the guidelines are less specific for older children. And if you\u2019re the parent of a tween \u2013 those years between nine and twelve \u2013 the lack of specific guidelines can be frustrating. This is just the age when children begin to become more interested in screens as a social tool, and if you\u2019re not careful, those screens may seem to take over their lives.<\/p>\n

However, there are some good reasons for the less specific guidelines. Children at this age can put their devices to good use as educational tools, and screen time<\/a> has become an important part of a child\u2019s socialization with their peers. No child wants to be left out of their social group, and texting and social media are as critical to this age group now as passing notes and having long telephone conversations was a generation ago. The important thing for this age group is not so much the specific amount of time they spend on the screens \u2013 the important thing is to find a healthy balance.<\/p>\n

Creating a Balance<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Parental

Keeping screens out of bedrooms can help prevent overuse.<\/p><\/div>\n

You can\u2019t expect your child to find a balance on their own. Some children may be able to do that, but most need a parent\u2019s help. As you may have discovered for yourself, screen-based activities can be compelling and even addictive, and it\u2019s hard for a child to tear themselves away on their own. You can help by setting clear boundaries for screen use.<\/p>\n

Designate screen-free times and places in your house. You might restrict screen use in the bedrooms, for example, and ban phones and tablets from family dinners and movie nights. Arrange outings and get-togethers for your child and their friends, and insist they stay off the screens when they have company over. Encourage participation in sports, music, or other activities that can\u2019t be done while looking at a screen. Don\u2019t forget to practice what you preach \u2013 follow your own rules for using devices, and make sure that you put down the phone or get off the computer when you\u2019re interacting with your child. They\u2019ll follow your example.<\/p>\n

Using Helpful Apps<\/strong><\/p>\n

Of course, a parent can\u2019t be everywhere at once. But technology can help you enforce the boundaries on your children\u2019s screen time<\/a> with apps that do some of the work for you. You can set them to lock the device after a certain amount of time or at a certain time of day, for example. That way, even if you\u2019re not there to see it, you\u2019ll know that your child is following your guidelines for screen use and maintaining their healthy balance.<\/p>\n

To find out more about how Screen Time can help you manage your child\u2019s devices in a healthy way, try it for free<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For more tips and information on how to get kids off screens, check out this handy guide<\/a> by ModernCastle.com<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The subject of how much screen time<\/a> is good for kids has been around in some form or another for years, ever since televisions became common household items. Now, the subject is more hotly debated than ever, with not just televisions but computers, tablets, and smartphones screens monopolizing more and more of everybody\u2019s time. You want your child to be familiar with the current technology \u2013 after all, it will probably play a significant role in their adult life \u2013 but on the other hand, you know your child also needs time for unstructured play and face-to-face communications. Here are some things you should know about screen time<\/a> and your children.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":3911,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[185,18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3696","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-online-offline-balance","category-parenting-hacks"],"yoast_head":"\nHow Much Screen Time is Too Much for Kids? - Screen Time<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Here are some things you should know about screen time and your child.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/screentimelabs.com\/blog\/how-much-screen-time-for-kids\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How Much Screen Time is Too Much for Kids? 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