Between television, computers, and cellphones, kids and teens get a big dose of screen time every day. In fact, current data indicate that kids and teens spend as many as nine hours per day in front of some type of electronic device.
Too much screen time poses significant dangers to kids’ health. Studies show that spending a lot of time in front of a TV, computer, or phone increases the risks of obesity, behavior problems, and sleep irregularities, as well as leading to poor academic performance.
Another possible hazard of too much screen time is vision problems, like digital eyestrain, a collection of symptoms that include blurry vision, eye discomfort, headaches, strained eye muscles, and dry eyes.
While controlling how much time your child spends in front of a screen may seem challenging, the team at ABC Children's Eye Specialists offers some straightforward tips that can help.
Electronics are here to stay, and they do offer some important benefits for your child’s growth and education. Instead of a hard-line ban on electronics, focus on how to incorporate them for healthy activities that support your child’s development.
Encourage your child to use screen time to help with schoolwork, explore hobbies, and connect with family members — all positive activities that let them use the screens they love without falling prey to overuse and abuse.
Kids learn what they see, and their behaviors often reflect what their parents are doing, especially during the early years of childhood. If you want your child or teen to reduce their screen time, you need to do the same.
Let your child see you practicing what you preach in terms of when, how, and how much you use electronics. And let them see you participating in other activities, like sports or hobbies.
Some kids turn to screen time out of boredom. Encourage your child to play outdoors, introduce them to board games and puzzles, or start a parent-kid reading club, setting aside time each day to read together. You don’t have to read the same books — just spend time reading in the same room or space.
Take time each day to talk with your kids about their day or their interests.
Reserve an area of your home where electronic devices aren’t allowed. Instead, make that a space to read, play games, or do hobbies. If you can’t reserve an entire space, then set aside specific times — like mealtimes — when electronics aren’t allowed.
For younger kids especially, use parental controls to limit what your child can do online or when watching TV. Set time limits or block out channels or websites to curate your child’s experience even when you’re not there.
Because excess screen time can affect your child’s vision, sleep, weight, and mood, monitoring for these and other issues can help you take steps before minor problems turn more serious. If you do notice any problems, call our office or your child’s pediatrician and schedule a visit.
Speaking of regular visits, even if you don’t notice health issues, it’s still important to make sure your child or teen sees the eye doctor on a regular basis to check for problems in their earliest stages.
Regular visits help us make sure their eyes and vision are developing properly, so your child can excel in school, in sports, socially, and in every area of their lives.
If you think your child might be suffering from digital eyestrain or if they have any changes in their vision, don’t put off seeking care. Call our offices to book an appointment with the team at ABC Children’s Eye Specialists in Phoenix, Avondale, and Mesa, Arizona, today.
