What You Need To Know About Screen Time and Children.

Guest Author

---

Screen time is the period a child spends in front of a device with a screen such as a TV, computer, game console, tablet or smartphone.The recommended time limits that a child should spend in front of a screen are based on their age. Regardless of the device, most of the time the screen limits opportunities for children to do outdoor physical activity. Over time, this low level of physical activity can negatively affect their health. Too much time on screen can also affect a child's mental health. They may become sad, exhausted, withdrawn or disinterested in other activities.

---

The technology that children have access to today changes their world. It offers them infinite possibilities. The challenge is that children can easily have access to too much information, thereby neglecting other fun and healthy activities.

A recent study by the Active Living and Obesity Research Group of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario shows that Canadian children of school-going age have sedentary behaviors for 65 to 80 per cent of their children for each one hundred of the hours they are awake. Another study found that children and young Canadians aged 6 to 19 have sedentary activities for 62% of the time.

In other words, most young children have activities in which they do not move much and spend little energy. This trend is partly due to the increasing time we spend each day in front of a screen.

Effects of screen time on physical and mental health

Screen time has been correlated with poor physical fitness and mental health and social development issues.

A higher rate of obesity in kids have been traced to spending to much time in front of a screen.Children and youth who spend more than two hours a day in front of the television have lower levels of self-esteem.An inverse correlation was observed between screen time and school results. Part of the reason for this is that children who spend more time watching television tend to spend less time on homework.

Too much time on screen can also affect a child's nutrition. All children do not eat or snack while watching TV or using other devices. But, the time spent in front of a screen can sometimes encourage bad eating habits. For example, a TV show or video game can distract a child while eating that he may not realize he is no longer hungry. A child can easily make the connection between spending time in front of a screen and enjoying their favorite food.

"Active" video games are presented as an excellent way to promote physical activity. But children and young people learn quickly to play with minimal movement (for example by moving only the wrist). This dramatically reduces the energy they spend.

What is "excessive" screen time?

The recommended limits for how much time a child has to spend in front of a screen vary with age. The Canadian Pediatric Society and the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) made the following recommendations:

• Before the age of two: avoid exposure to screens.

• Two to four years: limit screen time to less than an hour a day.For kids and young people aged

• 5 to 17: limit the amount of time spent in front of a screen to two hours per day (watching television, texting, or playing on the computer).

Screen time is both an essential and unavoidable part of a child's life, especially when he is older. Older children will spend time on the computer doing homework and on the phone to keep in touch with their friends. Effects of screen time are not always the same. For example, making a video call to a family member on the phone or computer does not have the same effect on brain development as viewing a series of videos.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and other related associations take into account the growing presence of technology in the early years. The Academy no longer specifies daily limits by age group. Instead, insists that the parent has the responsibility to set limits on screen time. Parents should be a guide for their children in healthy behavior.

How to determine if a child's screen time is excessive

Spending time in front of a screen becomes unhealthy when a child is stuck on the screen for most of the day. If a child's screen time exceeds the recommended age limit, there may be some telltale signs.

Children and young people who spend too much time in front of a screen may have the following signs:

• sad

• very tired

• anxious or fearful

• isolated from friends or family

• withdrawn or nervous

• restless or tense

• aggressive or angry

They may also experience emotional outbursts and difficulties in making and keeping friends.

Some children have difficulty concentrating and lose interest in school, following rules or doing other activities. Lack of physical activity that results from excessive screen time can also cause frequent backaches, headaches or stomach upset.

Some of these problems may have other causes than excessive screen time. Consult a doctor if you have any concerns about a child's physical or mental health.

It is widely understood that with time and new technology, things have and will continue to change. As technology continues to evolve in our world, parents have to be evolving in their knowledge of what healthy screen time looks like for their specific child.