Screen Time: A Modern Health Concern

By Toriyan Wallace
Intern

Smartphones, television, computers, and tablets can be great resources for teenagers to connect with friends and family. Though too much screen time using screens can be harmful, taking away from important daily activities such as studying, socializing, or exercise. In many cases of excessive electronic usage children can acquire health issues.

Health professionals recommend that teens use smartphones for no more than an hour or two a day. Parents are open to discuss this with their children and decide if more time than recommended is okay for their child. 

Here are some ways to set limits on screen time:

Be aware - Track how much time you and your teen spend using devices with screens.

Identify solutions - What are ways that people limit their screen time? What are you already doing to limit screen time? Can this be improved?

Make a plan - Together with your teen, decide what limits and rules to set around screen time. Make a “family contract” where your whole family agrees to follow these rules.

Be accountable - Try announcing what you are doing on your device every time you use it, ask your teen to do this too. Describing what you are doing on your devices helps you and your teen use your phone only for activities that you feel are valuable to spend time doing.

Take charge - Remove app notifications on your smartphone, this gives you the opportunity to choose when to check your phone instead of your phone choosing for you. Download apps that help you limit your screen time to choose one that works for you and your family.

Source :Whose Kids? Our Kids! Teens and Screen Time (B3706-17) (shopify.com)