Striking The Technology Balance: How Much TV Is Too Much?

A recent study by the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that increasing consumption of digital media by children could be having a negative impact on their development.

These days, technology is hard to avoid. Smartphones have made it so that a full library of videos, games and other digital content is available for use any time, anywhere at the flick of a finger. The pervasiveness of the Internet, TV, computer and video games in our daily lives also means that technology is competing for our children’s attention at younger and younger ages. In the United States, the average infant starts watching TV at only 5 months old and 82% of kids will go online before they enter the 7^th grade.

While technology can be a powerful learning tool for children, when used in excess it can actually have a negative impact on a child’s development. Multiple studies have shown that infants exposed to two or more hours of screen time before their first birthday makes them six times more likely to experience poor language development. Studies have also linked excessive television watching in children with a higher likelihood of developing cognitive and social/emotional delays, obesity, and sleep disorders.

This isn’t to say that parents should get rid of their TVs, smartphones and tablets. Well-constructed educational programming or apps can be great learning aids for young children. Sesame Street, for example, has been shown to have a positive impact on the cognitive, literary and social development of 3- to 5-year-olds. The real challenge for parents is to find programming that truly is useful and educational, and also to strike just the right balance of screen time for their child. Knowing where to draw that line isn’t always easy, but parents can start to find that balance by being more mindful of the kind/quantity of digital media their child(ren) is exposed to and coming up with a family media plan that dictates when and how technology will be used at home.

Here are 5 things to consider when you are coming up with a media plan for your family:

1. Stay Involved. Whenever possible, try not to let your child spend their screen time alone. Watch an episode of your child’s favorite program with them or play with apps together. Engaging with your child about the media they consume will help them better understand what they are seeing and learning, and how that applies to the world around them.
2. Be Picky. Always make sure that you are choosing the highest-quality educational programming possible. Closely monitor the content your child(ren) is consuming and be sure to thoroughly test/research apps before you allow your kid(s) to download them!
3. Set Limits. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, you should avoid using digital media with children 18-24 months old. For children ages, 2 to 5, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting screen time to 1 hour per day.
4. Power Down. Always turn off all devices at least 1 hour before bedtime to help your child “wind down” before sleep. Turn off the auto-play setting on your video players (Netflix, Hulu, etc.) to prevent mindless "binge-watching". When you've finished using your devices get into the habit of turning them off completely and putting them away.
5. Emphasize Family Time. Designate certain times or activities as “device-free” and use that time to connect as a family. For example, make a rule that no devices can be used during family dinners, etc.