It wasn’t that long ago when “screen time” meant time spent watching television – parents were advised to set limits on how much time a child spent sitting in front of a TV and not to put a TV in a child’s bedroom.
These days it’s far more complicated. TV is still a player, but “screen time” far more often means a portable device – laptop, tablet, and, especially, a smart phone. With competing advice from websites, magazines, books, pediatricians, family members, friends, social media, and other sources, it’s no wonder parents continue to ask these questions: How much media should I let my young child access, how should we use media, and what media can be beneficial for my child, or at least not detrimental to her development?
The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a policy statement in October 2016 that lifted their previous ban on screen time for children under 2 and provided media use guidelines.
- Healthy Digital Media Use Habits for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers – tips and guidance about media, reading e-books, developing a Family Media Use plan, and more.
- #DeviceFreeDinner — tips for a balanced digital life.
- Screen Time – to help parents make informed decisions.
