Managing Your Screen Time

V1 Staff |

Last October, the American Academy of Pediatrics took a look at the amount of screen time kids were getting and made new recommendations on how parents could become media mentors instead of media villains.

The New AAP Recommendations

Children 18 months or younger should not be exposed to screen time beyond video chats.

Children 18 months to 24 months old can begin to be introduced to high-quality shows and media edutainment programs as a way to teach vocabulary and math development skills. It is also recommended that parents watch and help interpret what the child is seeing.

Children ages 2 to 5 should be exposed to no more than one hour of high-quality media usage in a co-viewing setting, meaning parents watch it with the children.

Children ages 6 to 18 should be exposed to a pre-determined limit of high-quality media usage set by both the parent(s) and the child. Parents should keep in mind that the amount of media exposure allowed should not impede upon healthy sleep, physical activity, and other behaviors essential to a healthy lifestyle.

So how does a parent set these guidelines without starting World War III? The AAP also developed a tool to help spark a conversation about screen usage and acceptable behaviors according to each family’s needs. They also suggest that parents model appropriate screen time behaviors for their kids to see. To explore the tool or to see if it fits with your family’s lifestyle, go to HealthyChildren.org/mediauseplan.