What are the latest guidelines for screen time for children?
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Latest Guidelines for Screen Time for Children
Screen Time Recommendations for Infants and Toddlers
Infants Under 2 Years
Current pediatric guidelines strongly recommend that infants younger than 2 years should avoid screen time altogether. This recommendation is based on evidence suggesting that early exposure to screens can negatively impact cognitive and language development . Despite these guidelines, adherence remains low, with only about 24.7% of children under 2 years meeting the recommended screen time limits.
Children Aged 2 to 5 Years
For children aged 2 to 5 years, the guidelines suggest limiting screen time to no more than 1 hour per day. This recommendation aims to mitigate risks such as obesity, decreased cognitive and language development, and reduced academic success . However, adherence to this guideline is also low, with only 35.6% of children in this age group meeting the recommended limits.
Screen Time Recommendations for Older Children
Children Aged 5 to 17 Years
For older children, aged 5 to 17 years, the guidelines recommend limiting recreational screen time to no more than 2 hours per day. This is to ensure that screen time does not interfere with physical activity, sleep, and other essential activities.
Impact of COVID-19 on Screen Time
Increased Reliance on Screens
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased screen time among children due to the closure of schools and recreational facilities, and the shift to online learning and virtual social interactions. This has made it challenging for families to adhere to existing screen time guidelines. Many parents have expressed feelings of guilt and inadequacy regarding their inability to meet these guidelines during the pandemic.
Harm Reduction Approach
Given the increased reliance on screens, experts suggest adopting a harm reduction approach. This involves empowering parents and children to make informed choices that minimize the negative impacts of screen time, rather than strictly adhering to the guidelines. This approach can help families navigate the challenges posed by the pandemic while still promoting healthy screen use.
Parental Awareness and Interpretation
Variability in Understanding
There is significant variability in how parents interpret and implement screen time guidelines. Many parents are not fully aware of the recommendations, and those who are aware often struggle to adhere to them due to various contextual factors within the family environment . This highlights the need for clearer communication and support to help parents understand and implement these guidelines effectively.
Conclusion
The latest guidelines for screen time recommend no screen time for infants under 2 years, no more than 1 hour per day for children aged 2 to 5 years, and no more than 2 hours per day for older children. Despite these recommendations, adherence remains low, and the COVID-19 pandemic has further complicated efforts to limit screen time. A harm reduction approach may offer a more practical solution for families struggling to balance screen use with other activities. Enhanced parental awareness and support are crucial for improving adherence to these guidelines and promoting healthier screen habits among children.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic
Global Prevalence of Meeting Screen Time Guidelines Among Children 5 Years and Younger: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Adherence to screen time recommendations for Australian children aged 0–12 years
Applying Harm Reduction Principles to Address Screen Time in Young Children Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Requesting National Guidelines for Screen Time in Indian Children from IAP
Parents’ Interpretations of Screen Time Recommendations for Children Younger Than 2 Years
Screen time use in children less than five years old
Measurement of screen time among young children aged 0–6 years: A systematic review
Screen time and sleep among school-aged children and adolescents: a systematic literature review.
A Descriptive Epidemiology of Screen-Based Devices by Children and Adolescents: a Scoping Review of 130 Surveillance Studies Since 2000
Screen Time in Under-five Children
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