Screen Time Tips For Parents by Jackie Hojati MSN ARNP FNP-C

​Parents, grandparents, babysitters. The kids are bored, you’ve been chauffeuring them around from activity to activity and now they are following you around the house wondering what it is that you have planned next. You need a little break. They want to use their ipads or tablets. What’s it going to hurt right? Some screen time can be educational right? 

Let's talk about issues that can come about from too much or even regular everyday exposure to screen time. Some research shows that screen time can increase the incidence of:

• Sleep disturbance; the constant flashes of bright lights and stimuli can disrupt a child's normal sleep pattern. 
  
• Obesity; children can develop a more sedentary lifestyle and spend less time being active physically. 
  
• Delays with social and language skill development; children who depend on or spend a significant amount of time with screens miss opportunities to develop communication, interpersonal, and motor skills. 
  
• Behavioral problems and/or violence; exposure to violent video games and movies as well as negative behaviors can intrigue children and then they may act out in real life what they have been exposed to on screen. 
  

Don’t feel guilty after reading what screen time can do! We can only do our best to guide and teach our children.. We have all been there! We are not perfect and it is okay to use screen time as a crutch in limited amounts. As a matter of fact, there are some BENEFITS to screen time when used in moderation. These include:

• Opportunities for education; for a child that doesn’t do as well in a school setting, screen time provides a wonderful alternative to learn. 
  
• Bonding socially; if a child isn’t able to physically bond with others, video games, etc are great alternatives for meeting friends with the same interests, sometimes from all over the world. 
  
• Alternative ways to communicate; staying in touch with family and friends over long distances. 
  

Screen time tips:

• Don’t allow iPads or tablet use in the car. Use the time to talk and communicate as a family. 
  
• Don’t allow them during meals. 
  
• Set limits for your kids depending on their age. Take advantage of the parental control options. Ask what they are watching, tune in on what they are watching. Keep an eye on the apps that are being downloaded and make sure they are age appropriate. Make sure children don’t have any screen time at least 1 hour before bedtime as it can affect their sleep. 
  
• Don’t offer a child screen time because you need to finish working or need some much needed and deserved “me” time. Instead suggest that they color or play with their toys, build something out of cardboard boxes, do a chore, play outside, etc. We understand this is a lot easier said than done. Children will whine and cry to get what they want but after a few times of follow through children should react more positively to your suggestions. 
  

Just try to be the best role model that you can in regard to screen time. Set good examples. Turn off the television, put down your phone, tablet and/or Ipad and spend time with your children. Our kids model what they see us do. Ultimately, they just want to spend time with their loved ones.