Yet another study weighs in on the topic of screen time. This researchers examined the following questions: how much screen time do kids really get—and is it too much?
Screens are ubiquitous in our now digital society and at some point all kids will be exposed to them, no matter what you do. The question remains: does the amount of exposure matter? A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics found a link between excessive screen use in kids and delays in development. The study concludes, “When young children are observing screens, they may be missing important opportunities to practice and master interpersonal, motor, and communication skills.”
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The study included 3388 moms and kids tracking their stages and screen use at 24, 36, and 60 months. On average, kids aged 24, 36, and 60 months in the study were watching approximately 17, 25, and 11 hours of television per week, “which amounts to approximately 2.4, 3.6, and 1.6 hours of screen time per day.”
So how much is too much? A recent study conducted by the National Institutes of Health suggests that kids should have no more than two hours of screen time per day to avoid impacted kids’ cognition. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids under 24 months should have no screen time other than video chatting, while those ages two to five-years-old should be limited to no more than one hour of quality screen time per day.
With so many different studies and recommendations it can be hard for families to know what to do, but ultimately it’s up to parents to decide what is best for their own kids.
—Shahrzad Warkentin
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