How much screen time is healthy?

Screens are integral to our daily routines and can play a valuable role in children’s education and development. However, too much screen time can be detrimental to physical and emotional wellbeing. It can cause kids to have trouble concentrating on off-screen activities and impede on their social and family life. How much screen time is too much, and when should we impose limits on our kids’ use of screens?

Passive versus active screen time

There are two types of screen time – active and passive. Active screen time is where we engage in tasks or activities, such as completing a quiz, solving a problem, learning information, communicating directly with another person, or creating something. Passive screen time is where we absent-mindedly absorb what’s happening on the screen without directly engaging with it. Watching videos, scrolling through social media feeds and playing games that don’t challenge us are all examples of passive screen time.

Active screen time can be incredibly beneficial for children because it can contribute to cognitive development. Excessive passive screen time can cause issues with concentration, focus and mood, and inhibit learning and creativity. Research has found that the type of screen time children engage in is more important than the number of hours they spend looking at a screen.

 

How much screen time is too much?

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health conducted a review of the health impacts of screen time and found that there is a correlation between high screen time and poor health. The review found that children who spent more than 2 hours each day on a screen showed more symptoms of depression than others. However, it also found that mental health was better in kids that had some screen time than it was in kids who didn’t have any screen time at all.

The review concluded that there isn’t a ‘safe’ level of screen time, and nor is there an ‘unsafe’ level. Instead, it emphasised the importance of monitoring what children are using screens for and ensuring that they don’t access inappropriate material.

 

Spot the signs of excessive screen time

While it may be worrying to see your child glued to a phone, laptop or tablet, there may not be any reason to ask them to cut down on their screen time unless you’re concerned about their activity. Look out for changes in their behaviour or mood. If they seem to have trouble concentrating on off-screen activities, are spending lots of time alone, or they get upset when separated from their phone or tablet, they may be getting too much passive screen time.

You can also ask your child questions about their screen use to determine the impact on their mental health. Doing so can help them to become more self-aware of their screen use and how it makes them feel. Good questions to ask include:

  • Why did you just reach for your phone?
  • Is there something else you could do right now?
  • How do you feel after spending time in front of a screen?

Awareness is key to managing screen time

It’s easy for teens and adults alike to reach for screens out of habit rather than necessity. Instead of putting hard limits on screen time, it may be better to become more aware of screen use and pay closer attention to the screen-based activities of our children.