Screen Time – the term is becoming mainstream in describing time spent in front of a glowing screen – typically of a mobile type of technology. As parents, we continue to tote the fine balance of our child being entertained and quiet when they are playing a game on your iPad (great virtual babysitter!) but yet you have to also concern yourself about the long term effects of staring at this screen for more than 2 hours per day.

2 hours per day, that was the previously recommended amount of time that the AAP recommended for children over the age of 2 and prior to the iPad being released. A lot has changed since! More than 30% of U.S. children first play with a mobile device when they still are in diapers, according to Common Sense Media. Almost 75% of 13- to 17-year-olds have smartphones, and 24% admit using their phones almost constantly, according to the Pew Research Center.

In a world where “screen time” is becoming simply “time,” our policies must evolve or become obsolete.

We all know this is probably not occurring in every household. Like any recommendations, they have to evolve and adapt. This is exactly what the goal was for the AAP’s latest recommendations which are focusing less on time spent on technology but more on quality time across various activities. 

Here’s the list of recommendations from AAP

• Media is just another environment. Children do the same things they have always done, only virtually. Like any environment, media can have positive and negative effects.
• Parenting has not changed. The same parenting rules apply to your children’s real and virtual environments. Play with them. Set limits; kids need and expect them. Teach kindness. Be involved. Know their friends and where they are going with them.
• Role modeling is critical. Limit your own media use, and model online etiquette. Attentive parenting requires face time away from screens.
• We learn from each other. Neuroscience research shows that very young children learn best via two-way communication. “Talk time” between caregiver and child remains critical for language development. Passive video presentations do not lead to language learning in infants and young toddlers. The more media engender live interactions, the more educational value they may hold (e.g., a toddler chatting by video with a parent who is traveling). Optimal educational media opportunities begin after age 2, when media may play a role in bridging the learning achievement gap.
• Content matters. The quality of content is more important than the platform or time spent with media. Prioritize how your child spends his time rather than just setting a timer.
• Curation helps. More than 80,000 apps are labeled as educational, but little research validates their quality. An interactive product requires more than “pushing and swiping” to teach. Look to organizations like Common Sense Media (www.commonsensemedia.org) that review age-appropriate apps, games and programs.
• Co-engagement counts. Family participation with media facilitates social interactions and learning. Play a video game with your kids. Your perspective influences how your children understand their media experience. For infants and toddlers, co-viewing is essential.
• Playtime is important. Unstructured playtime stimulates creativity. Prioritize daily unplugged playtime, especially for the very young.
• Set limits. Tech use, like all other activities, should have reasonable limits. Does your child’s technology use help or hinder participation in other activities?
• It’s OK for your teen to be online. Online relationships are integral to adolescent development. Social media can support identity formation. Teach your teen appropriate behaviors that apply in both the real and online worlds. Ask teens to demonstrate what they are doing online to help you understand both content and context.
• Create tech-free zones. Preserve family mealtime. Recharge devices overnight outside your child’s bedroom. These actions encourage family time, healthier eating habits and healthier sleep.
• Kids will be kids. Kids will make mistakes using media. These can be teachable moments if handled with empathy. Certain aberrations, however, such as sexting or posting self-harm images, signal a need to assess youths for other risk-taking behaviors.

Sources:
Pediatricians Rethink Screen Time Policy for Children: http://www.wsj.com/articles/pediatricians-rethink-screen-time-policy-for-children-1444671636

Beyond ‘turn it off’: How to advise families on media use http://aapnews.aappublications.org/content/36/10/54.full

When We Worry About Screen Time, Are We Worrying About the Wrong Thing? http://www.alternet.org/education/when-we-worry-about-screen-time-are-we-worrying-about-wrong-thing

AAP Media and Children: https://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/aap-health-initiatives/Pages/Media-and-Children.aspx