Alexander Molteno, Llandudno Primary School principal
Imagine a child’s first words being heard through a smartphone screen instead of from their parents.
Today, many children under 8 own a tablet, spending more time with screens than ever before. This raises big concerns about their growth and well-being.
As parents and guardians, we need to think carefully about how much screen time our kids have and how it affects them.
Research shows that too much screen time can harm their thinking, language, and social skills.
It’s important to know how much screen time is too much and what we can do to keep it balanced.
First, let’s look at how much time kids are spending on screens. Reports show that kids aged 8 to 10 spend about six hours a day on screens.
Those aged 11 to 14 spend nine hours, and teenagers aged 15 to 18 spend seven and a half hours.
These numbers don’t even include screen time for schoolwork, which makes it clear that kids are growing up glued to screens.
The effects of this screen time are serious. A recent study found that children who spent an average of two hours a day on screens in their first year had lower thinking skills at age nine.
Other studies show that more than two hours of screen time a day can lead to lower scores in language and thinking tests.
In extreme cases, kids who spent over seven hours a day on screens had thinner brain areas related to critical thinking.
But the impact goes beyond just thinking skills. Too much screen time is linked to obesity, depression, behaviour problems, and anxiety.
The blue light from screens can also mess up sleep patterns by stopping melatonin production, making it hard to get enough sleep. This lack of sleep affects their physical health and school performance.
Language skills also suffer from too much screen time. Kids learn language best through talking and interacting with people, not by passively watching screens.
For children under 3, missing out on real-life conversations can delay their language learning and social skills.
So, what can we do to help? Experts recommend that children under 2 should not have any screen time, except for video chatting with family.
For kids aged 2 to 5, limit screen time to one hour per day of high-quality, educational content, and watch it with them.
For older children, while there isn’t a specific time limit, it’s important to make sure screen time doesn’t interfere with sleep, physical activities, and face-to-face interactions.
Parents can also take practical steps to manage screen time. Create screen-free zones in the house, like bedrooms, and avoid screens during meals or before bedtime.
Encourage kids to engage in other activities like playing outside or doing creative projects.
Most importantly, set a good example by managing your own screen time.
As we navigate raising children in a digital world, we must create environments that support their overall development.
By setting screen time limits and encouraging real-world activities, we can help our children develop the skills they need to thrive.
Let’s use screens as tools for learning and growth, not obstacles to our children’s futures.
By following these guidelines and staying informed, we can balance the benefits of technology while protecting our children’s health and development.
The choices we make today will shape the well-being of the next generation.