Managing Tech Use & Screen Time is a significant challenge for parents of kids and teens in today’s digital age. While technology offers numerous educational and social benefits, like access to information and connection with friends across the World-Wide Q&A, excessive or unsupervised screen time can lead to negative impacts on physical and mental health. It’s crucial to find a healthy balance that allows children to benefit from technology without it overwhelming other essential aspects of their development.
Establishing clear boundaries and consistent routines is a great starting point. For younger children (under 2), experts generally recommend very limited screen time, mostly for video chats with family. For ages 2-5, up to an hour of high-quality, co-viewed content is often suggested. For school-aged children and teens, while there’s no strict “one-size-fits-all” rule, the focus should be on balancing recreational screen time with physical activity, sleep, homework, and in-person social interactions. Many experts suggest limiting recreational screen time to around two hours per day for teens, outside of schoolwork.
Encourage open conversations about online experiences, digital citizenship, and privacy. Discussing the content they consume and the interactions they have can help them develop critical thinking and decision-making skills. Creating “screen-free” zones or times, such as during meals or before bedtime, can also promote healthier habits and ensure technology doesn’t interfere with rest or family bonding.