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How do I tackle screen time?
By Carolyn Bunting, General Manager of Internet Matters
Children are born digital and grow up surrounded by advancing technology but a recent study found that more than half of parents of six-year-olds (52%*) admitted they’re concerned their kids don’t have interests outside going online and by the age of nine, 62%* of parents admit they’re worried about their child’s lack of offline hobbies.
The online world offers children tools to develop, learn and socialise so are parents right to have concerns about the amount of time their children spend online? And what constitutes too much time? Do we really know?
Jenny Radesky, Lead author of the policy statement Media and Young Minds* suggests that ‘too much media use can mean children don’t have enough time during the day to play, study, talk or sleep”.
Dr Aric Sigman in his lecture Managing Screen Time and Screen Dependency* argued that screen time was no longer a ‘cultural issue’ but had become a ‘medical issue’ as screens were being used as ‘babysitters’.
Earlier this year, more than 90 experts from around the globe including scientists, academics, doctors and psychologists hit back after a group of campaigners called on the government to implement screen time limits.
The experts penned an open letter calling for ‘quality research and evidence’ to support the campaigners’ claims. It read: “While we agree that the wellbeing of children is a crucial issue and the impact of screen-based lifestyles demands serious investigation, the message that any parents will hear is that screens are inherently harmful. This is simply not supported by solid research and evidence.”
In absence of the ‘solid’ research, the American Academy of Pediatrics released ‘recommendations’ which focus on a child’s need to include a variety of activities in their daily life.
The AAP suggest coming up with a personalised Family Media plan where parents and children agree a series of screen-free times together, where everyone within the family has to be media free.
Secondly, they suggest parents shouldn’t be seen as implementing strict rules about their child’s media use instead they advise parents to engage with what their child is getting up to online - join in their online games, watch their favourite videos and take part in what they’re doing online. This allows parents to apply aspects of their child’s online world to their offline world when offering digestible guidance.
The AAP’s guidelines suggest for children aged six and older is that their media use should never displace sleep, exercise and other activities that contribute to their health. Therefore, placing consistent limits on the time they spend using devices can aid their overall wellbeing and ensure balance.
They also suggest designating media-free times together. This is echoed by Internet Matters advice of ‘screen-free zones’ from the dinner table to the kitchen, bedroom or the car. The screen-free times and zones don’t just mean you can engage with your child offline but it allows you to have sensible conversations with them about what they’re getting up to online. At Internet Matters we encourage parents to have conversations with their children and keep up with their digital lives to ensure they stay safe online. The AAPs advice steers parents toward creating a balanced life for their children inclusive of both digital and non-digital activity. By suggesting parents and children create their family media plan together, they are encouraging mums and dads to have honest and frank conversations and value their child’s input. Although we accept that evidence on the effects of screen-time mean quantitative guidelines are at this stage extremely difficult; Internet Matters strongly supports recommendations that parents should have an open channel with their children, talk regularly and crucially stay involved with their online lives.
For more information visit www.internetmatters.org
*Research of 1,500 parents of children using the internet between age 6 and 16m in 2013 and September 2016, carried out by Opinion Leader.
*Media and Young Minds, Pediatrics November 2016, VOLUME 138 / ISSUE 5
*PSHE Talks For Schools, Managing Screen Time and Screen Dependancy, March 2015