Show notes
Screen Time Went Up During the Pandemic
“The latest report from Common Sense Media confirms what many of us know intuitively: Entertainment media use grew faster in the last two years than it did in the four years before the pandemic. While many of us didn’t think it was possible to cram more entertainment screen time into our waking hours, we somehow managed to do so in 2021.”
Overview
What Is Screen Time?
We’ve Been Worried about It Since the Introduction of TV
Computers Accelerated the Issue (1980s and 1990s)
Gaming Devices, Cellphones, and Smartphones Put It All on Steroids
And Then There Was a Pandemic …
What Impact Has All of This Had on Your Screen Time?
Latest Studies
Screen Time Recommendations by The American Academy of Pediatrics
Infants/toddlers, ages 0–2 years: No screen time exposure for infants and toddlers. The only exception being connecting with loved ones on a screen.
Children ages 2–5 years: Up to one hour per day of high-quality screen time.
Do not use technology as a babysitter
In 2016, researchers found that babies (0–2 years) spend 42 minutes per day on screens, and children (3–4 years) spend two hours 40 minutes per day on screens.
Most parents teach their child how to use a touchscreen by age two.
Screen time usage per day was too high before the pandemic. It is even higher, now.
Positive Benefits of Non-Screen Play
Physical development
Brain development
Language development
Tactile learning
Critical-thinking skills
Development of imagination
Cooperation and conflict resolution
Consequences
Responses and Solutions
Above all, balance
Focusing on content may be more important than screen time
Consistency Is Very Helpful to Both Kids and Adults
Help children understand the business model of social media
Help children put social media interactions in context
Coping with Boredom Is a Life Skill and a Pathway to Creativity
Resources
- #2022–05–16 Millennials vow to cut down on screen time for ‘more natural life’ “https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/millennials-vow-cut-down-screen–23968163” - #2022–05–14 Too much screen time linked to ADHD, aggression, anxiety in children “https://www.studyfinds.org/screen-time-children-adhd-aggression-anxiety/” - #2022–05–13 Health experts: Time to kill screens and send kids back to camp “https://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/may/13/health-experts-time-kill-screens-and-send-kids-bac/” - #2022–05–12 Should kids have smartphones? Debate grows on mental health impact “https://www.today.com/parents/parents/kids-smartphones-parents-debate-smartphones-teens-tweens-rcna28489” - #2022–05–11 How has the pandemic affected children’s screen time? “https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/05/pandemic-children-screen-time/” - #2022–05–10 Add virtual ‘supervision’ over your kids’ screen time and digital content with these settings, apps “https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/05/10/add-virtual-supervision-over-your-kids-screen-time-and-digital-content-with-these-settings-apps/#/questions” - #2022–05–10 Norway says no to screen time for kids under two “https://www.thelocal.no/20220510/norway-says-no-to-screen-time-for-kids-under-two/” - #2022–05–09 Experts Can’t Agree on How Much Screen Time Is Too Much for Adults “https://time.com/6174510/how-much-screen-time-is-too-much/” - #2022–05–07 Parents encouraged to reduce children’s screen time “https://salinapost.com/posts/57b31704–8f93–48d9-a507-c3f1e3b44736” - #2022–05–05 Between pandemic restrictions and screen time, one thing is clear: The kids are not OK “https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/nicole-russell/article260997087.html” - #2022–05–05 UW Health study: Too much screen time isn’t a problem for most teens “https://www.nbc15.com/2022/05/05/uw-health-study-too-much-screen-time-isnt-problem-most-teens/” - #2022–05–05 Screen Time Went Up During the Pandemic “https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/smart-parenting-smarter-kids/202205/screen-time-went-during-the-pandemic” - #2022–05–04 Mom Shares How She Avoided Screen Time Until Her Son Was 2 Years Old: ‘Normalize Being Bored’ “https://www.intheknow.com/post/mom-shares-how-she-avoided-screen-time-until-her-son-was–2-years-old-normalize-being-bored/” - #2022–05–04 Campaign urges rethink of Gen Z’s screen time habits “https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/campaign-urges-rethink-gen-zs–23861187” - #2022–05–02 Screen time vs. traditional play: Keeping kids balanced “https://nsjonline.com/article/2022/05/screen-time-vs-traditional-play-keeping-kids-balanced/” - #2022–0428 How parents’ views of their kids’ screen time, social media use changed during COVID–19 “https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/04/28/how-parents-views-of-their-kids-screen-time-social-media-use-changed-during-covid–19/” - #2022–04–28 Worried about your kids’ screen time? Check your own first. “https://www.washingtonpost.com/parenting/2022/04/28/parent-screen-time-phones/” - #2022–04–24 Report: Kids’ time spent on screen soars during the pandemic “https://cruxnow.com/cns/2022/04/report-kids-time-spent-on-screen-soars-during-the-pandemic” - #2022–04–22 Experts Say This Small Change Can Drastically Reduce Your Screen Time—So I Tested It Out “https://www.wellandgood.com/phone-black-and-white-screentime/” - #2022–04–22 Too Much Screen Time Is Linked To Self-Harming Thoughts In Teens “https://www.moms.com/excessive-screen-time-linked-self-harming-thoughts-teens/” - #2022–04–22 Office of Children’s Mental Health Releases Tips for Parents and Guardians on Healthy Screen Time Use “https://antigotimes.com/2022/04/office-of-childrens-mental-health-releases-tips-for-parents-and-guardians-on-healthy-screen-time-use/” -...
