Potential Danger Of Too Much Screen Time For Children

A study has found changes in “brain wiring” among young children who get a lot of screen time. Preschoolers (ages 3-5) who spend more time in front of a screen have ‘lower structural integrity’ of white matter – or brain wiring — in areas of the brain that relate to language, literacy, imagination, and self-regulation, according to a new study published in JAMA Pediatrics.

Pediatrician Dr. John Hutton says that they discovered that the fiber tracts, or the “wires” connecting different parts of the brain that are involved in these functions had “lower measures of insulation and organization.” He believes that with all the stimulating things that go on with electronic devices, they probably do “too much” for kids, and leave them little incentive to use their imaginations, and to talk and practice the language skills that they are just learning at a young age. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute offers these tips to reduce screen time:

Set a Good Example

You need to be a good role model and limit your screen time to no more than two hours per day, too.  If your kids see you following your own rules, then they’ll be more likely to do the same.

Log Screen Time vs. Active Time

Start tracking how much time your family spends in front of a screen, including things like TV- and DVD-watching, playing video games, and using the computer for something other than school or work. Then take a look at how much physical activity they get. That way you’ll get a sense of what changes need to be made. Use the Screen Time Chart​  to do it.

Make Screen Time = Active Time

When you do spend time in front of the screen, do something active. Stretch, do yoga and/or lift weights. Or, challenge the family to see who can do the most push-ups, jumping jacks, or leg lifts during TV commercial breaks.

Set Screen Time Limits

Create a house rule that limits screen time to two hours every day. More importantly, enforce the rule.

Create Screen-free Bedrooms

Don’t put a TV or computer in your child's bedroom. Kids who have TVs in their room tend to watch about 1.5 hours more TV a day than those that don’t. Plus, it keeps them in their room instead of spending time with the rest of the family.

Make Meal Time = Family Time

Turn off the TV during meals. Better yet, remove the TV from the eating area if you have one there. Family meals are a good time to talk to each other. Research shows that families who eat together tend to eat more nutritious meals. Make eating together a priority and schedule family meals at least two to three times a week.

Provide Other Options

Watching TV can become a habit, making it easy to forget what else is out there. Give your kids ideas and/or alternatives, such as playing outside, getting a new hobby, or learning a sport. See more tips for getting physically active.

Don't Use Screen Time as Reward or Punishment

Practices like this make screen time seem even more important to children.