hours per day for older children. Yet many kids get more than twice that. So what’s the best way to make sure kids don’t overdo it? Here are some tips, from parents and experts:
Make a plan
Parents should set limits early on, depending on each child’s age or aptitude,” says Monty Fuchs, director of technology at Buncombe County Schools. Kids need boundaries and consistent encouragement to engage in alternative activities, like exercise, he adds. If Julie Schantz’s daughter Ruby, 7, “isn’t watching TV or playing on the computer or iPad, she doesn’t know what to do,” says Schantz, of West Asheville, whose older daughter, Molly, is 12. Although they have made lists of things to do and there’s easy access to crafts, toys and games at home, Ruby still “struggles with what to do,” she adds. That’s OK, child development experts say — it’s good for kids to be idle and even bored, which allows time for introspection, creative thought and self-awareness. The Schantz family’s schedule typically includes one hour of TV and 30 minutes of a second screen (iPad or computer) on two weekdays, after homework and chores are done. An active electronic game like Wii is allowed any time. Weekends are open, which makes for “more of a battle” when they’ve had too much and it’s time to turn everything off, she says. “When we stick to the schedule, they are more productive and creative and come up with cool things to do without screens, so the schedule is key,” she says. Displaying the family’s agreed upon screen schedule in a visible place, also helps, she adds. “(We set) very clear expectations and rules and if things seem to get out of control, we come together and revisit the rules,” Schantz says, with logical consequences for breaking the rules, like putting away an overused device. “Encourage behaviors that you want to continue,” like taking breaks and sticking to the time limit, she adds, and ask your kids to come up with solutions, like using a timer.
Get involved
“Understand technology and what’s out there for young children and teens,”
WHAT THE DOCTORS SAY The American Academy of Pediatrics has these media guidelines on its website: “The AAP recommends that parents establish ‘screen-free’ zones at home by making sure there are no televisions, computers or video games in children’s bedrooms, and by turning off the TV during dinner. Children and teens should engage with entertainment media for no more than one or two hours per day, and that should be highquality content. It is important for kids to spend time on outdoor play, reading, hobbies, and using their imaginations in free play. “Television and other entertainment media should be avoided for infants and children under age 2. A child’s brain develops rapidly during these first years, and young children learn best by interacting with people, not screens.”
says Scott W. Governo, DNP, family and pediatric nurse practitioner with the Developmental Pediatrics Team at Mission Children’s Hospital. Governo has two teenage boys. “Remain actively involved and talk with kids to learn about where they go, what they watch, and how often they access their devices.” By showing an active interest, it’s easier to know how much is too much and help make better decisions about their media choices, he adds.
Control the environment
“Phones should go on the charger located in the kitchen at a reasonable time each night and computer/TV use should be in common areas, where anyone can see what is on the screen,” says Fuchs. “Some parents also turn off their Internet router each night,” he adds. Parents can set up automatic shutdown times and other controls for computers and phones to limit use, which can be “helpful, but is just a tool and should not be relied upon,” Governo says. Try limiting TV to pre-recorded shows to avoid the ongoing flow of shows as well as commercials. “Set an example by limiting your own technology use,” he says. Avoid texting in restaurants, checking emails or Facebook constantly or watching TV during dinner.
Be flexible, when appropriate
Schantz sometimes allows her 12-year-
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old, Molly, to watch extra TV or listen to music on an iPad at night. She also has a texting phone, she says, which is how she often communicates with her friends. She is old enough to “make her own decisions and live with the consequences,” Schantz says. “I trust her, we have open discussions about it, and she knows if her grades or behavior slip, things will have to change.” Meanwhile, experts agree that when it comes to screen time, quality is as important as quantity. David Ramsey, a parent in Leicester, allows more screen time when it’s “creative, collaborative, nonviolent and educational,” he says. His son, Dylan, 11, along with his brother, Skyler Mund-Penniman, 10, recently discovered the game Minecraft, which they play with friends remotely via Skype. Ramsey says that Dylan’s reading skills have doubled, along with improved online research and communication skills. “We use the experiential learning approach, allowing full engagement and encouragement,” says Ramsey, who expects the boys to eventually move on to another high-interest activity. “One of the worst feelings as a child is when you are pulled away from something you haven’t finished,” he says. “And because I’m generous, they don’t give me a hard time (when it’s time to quit).” Ramsey requires that they take a break at least once every hour, with longer breaks for chores and homework after a few hours of screen time, “to earn more screen time,” he says. At home, Schleder plays it by ear, telling them to call it quits when they’ve had enough. On long car trips, she will sometimes tell them they can use(their electronic devicesfor an hour or just one way, she adds. Our kids are “growing up in this screen age and it’s just how their world is going to be,” says Schantz. “There are lots of benefits, but there has to be limits set, with encouragement to move around, get outside and interact with real, live people.” “Ultimately, (kids) look to parents to be their guides,” agrees Ramsey. “That’s our job.” Pam J. Hecht is an Asheville-based freelance writer, editor and instructor. Email her at pamjh8@gmail.com.
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