Screentime for Young Children & Digital Wellbeing

Young Children & Digital Wellbeing

Screen time hasn’t always been a hot topic in pediatric care Growing up in the 80’s it was easy for me to say that I had limited screen time in my childhood. Television was just beginning to gain traction and households had phones attached to a “land-line.” Fast-forward to 2024, today we have smartphones that play videos, make phone calls, and do literally almost everything we need to do from ordering lunch to paying a bill, to turning on the house alarm and even to helping us meditate on cue! We have digital rings and watches that track our sleep and health stats. Catching up on news and the “real-world” is at the palm of our hands, few clicks away, always available and always online.

Raising a child in today’s digital era is challenging in many ways. With so many changes in the way we connect with one another, it is almost impossible to avoid screens completely.

Here’s what we know about screentime for our children:

We all know that excessive screen time is correlated with harmful health outcomes, including eye strain, inattention, sleep problems, and mental health challenges. And yet…

Not only is it difficult to regulate our own time spent on digital technologies, it is even more difficult to find the balance and right guidelines for our own children. Parenting in today’s digital era is hard!

We have digital rings and watches that track our sleep and health stats. Catching up on news and the “real-world” is at the palm of our hands, few clicks away, always available and always online. Raising a child in today’s digital era is challenging in many ways. With so many changes in the way we connect with one another, it is almost impossible to avoid screens completely.

American Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines for Screen Time for children based on age groups

The American Academy of Pediatrics Updated (2024) Guidelines on Screen Time:

Until 18 months of age limit screen use to video chatting along with an adult (for example, with a parent who is out of town).

Between 18 and 24 months screen time should be limited to watching educational programming with a caregiver.

For children 2-5 years of age, limit non-educational screen time to about 1 hour per weekday and 3 hours on the weekend days.

For ages 6 and older, encourage healthy habits and limit activities that include screens.

More recommendations on screen time for young & growing children:

  • Turn off all screens during family meals and outings.
  • Learn about and use parental controls.
  • Avoid using screens as pacifiers, babysitters, or to stop tantrums.
  • Turn off screens and remove them from bedrooms 30-60 minutes before bedtime.

Guidelines are, allow me to emphasize; just that. Suggestions for some goals we hope to work towards for the betterment of our children’s growth and development. They are not “rules,” or “limits,” or “codes of conduct.”

What is the right amount of screen time for your child?

Over the years working as a pediatrician with thousands of families in Las Vegas, from infancy to teenage years, I approach screen time with the goal of increasing awareness. The technologies we have today are helpful in many ways but for every family it is about finding what works for you and what you enjoy the most about spending time together. The issue is not that any certain number of hours of screen time will negatively affect your child’s outcome, it is the recognition of what we miss out on when we are in front of a screen.

How screen time affects your child’s development by age group:

Screentime for Baby’s First Year

In the baby’s first year, you and your baby are establishing that secure bond together. When he has a need, he will vocalize and gesture to which you will respond by helping to meet that need. With practice, you will be finely in tune with your baby and he will have a sense of safety and love that fosters self exploration and development.

Screentime for Ages 1 – 4

Between ages 1-4, your toddler is picking up new words, new expressions and discovering how things work, like gravity and water. Through playing and testing out his boundaries, he will learn so much about how the world works. I often reassure parents that boredom at this age is not a problem.

With their curiosity, you may feel the need to keep them entertained with screen time, but allowing your child to explore and find new ways to play has its value. There may be times that screen time is helpful, like allowing you some uninterrupted time to finish work, cook, or handle whatever task at hand. If you are doing your best to engage with your child and being mindful of the time they are on the screen, chances are you are doing just FINE mom and dad!

Screentime for School-Age Kids

School-age kids often use technology for school work and learning. Being mindful of taking breaks every 30-45 minutes is a good way to move away from the screen, allowing the mind to reset and eyes to rest.

It may make sense to have screen time as a time to unwind or transition during the day, and not limit screen time to only work and productivity. Try balancing out the time spent in front of a screen with time outdoors or time doing creative activities. It might make sense to you and your family to limit screen times during meals or short car rides so that you can spend that time together in conversation. There is no right or wrong to how you do it.

Digital technologies are here to stay and will continue to evolve with us. While the goal is not to reject it completely or to polarize the use of technologies, it is just simply knowing that we connect with our children one-on-one best in ways that cannot be replaced by technologies. This person to person interaction, at any age, is what allows relationships to flourish.

At Little Roots Pediatrics in Las Vegas, we take a holistic approach to your child’s care. We value your input and experience as a parent, and work together towards building a sustainable health plan for your child.

Dr. Eileen Shi

Board-Certified Las Vegas Pediatrician

Your pediatrician should always be your child’s advocate and believe your child always comes first. Little Roots Pediatrics families on their wellness journey with Concierge Pediatric care. We integrate evidence-based care with holistic health principles to provide the most up-to-date, direct-access pediatric care.