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My family decided on 0 screen time until age 2 (Check out my previous post on Screen Time for 0-2 year-olds). My son's second birthday is coming up fast and I am trying to decide how and when I want to add screen time to his life. So I decided to do some research to help me make the decision.
Remember these types of decisions are personal. What works for my family may not work for your family. I am providing information I have researched in hopes it will help you make the best decision that works for you and your family!
In all of the research I have done, everything says "Introduce your child to high-quality programs designed for children" or some very similar statement.
During the pandemic, experts acknowledged that a specific time limit may no longer be appropriate because many children have to be on screens for a variety of situations and because so many parents have to be working while children are home. Instead, experts suggested using the three C's as a guideline: child, content, and context. So consider your individual child and their needs, what they are watching, and how you're interacting with them.
Experts seem to agree that quality matters more than the quantity of time or size of the screen.
What is High-Quality Programming?
Many experts recommend using Common Sense Media to help you make decisions on appropriate content for your children. This site provides ratings and content information for parents on movies, games, TV, podcasts, apps, YouTube, etc.
Tips for Younger Kids:
Prioritize content from reputable sources (like PBS Kids)
Live Zoo Cameras are good distractors for toddlers
Media at a real-life pace is shown to lessen overstimulation, so consider something like "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" instead of "PJ Masks."
Characters exhibit typical child behavior and face typical childhood challenges
Characters that children can relate to
Children are exposed to classical music and fine-art
Children are exposed to mathematical and scientific concepts
Shows that are interactive
Includes diverse and inclusive characters
Slow-paced shows
Educational vs. Entertainment
It is also important to be honest with yourself. Not all media consumption is going to be educational and that is okay.
If you are not co-watching with your young child, it is unlikely to be very educational. You need to be there to ask them questions on a deeper level. But it is not going to hurt them to watch a show for entertainment while you take a shower or have a Zoom call.
Make sure the time involved is moderate and the content is age appropriate. It can also be a fun treat for kids too.
Apps:
There are so many apps out there, it is hard to know which ones to allow your kids to play with. Here are some tips:
Choose open-ended, responsive apps
Play should be child-led rather than app-led (90% child, 10% app)
Check out the ratings and recommendations on Common Sense Media
Beware of In-App Purchases and ads
Avoid apps that give rewards for nothing (this makes them addictive)
Engage in the app with your child
Choose apps that require critical thinking
Choose apps that teach skills that can be applied to real life
Screen Time Recommendations (according to the American Academy of Pediatrics):
0 - 18 months: None except video chat
18 - 24 months: Education programming watched with a caregiver
Ages 2 - 5: Limit non-educational screen time to about 1 hour per weekday and 3 hours on the weekend days
Ages 6 and up: Encourage healthy habits that limit screens
Other Tips:
Give your child an option between two programs you have determined as appropriate
Watch with your child when possible
Discuss what they are watching and how it applies to their world
Show interest in what they are watching/playing
Interactive is better
Turn the TV off when it is just background noise
Model good media use habits (try to put your phone down as much as possible)
Set limits before starting screen time
Eliminate screen time at least one hour before bedtime
Do not allow screens at the dinner table
Spend time outside if possible
Come up with a family media plan
Remember Mama, you are doing a great job! You got this!
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