When is screen time too much and how can it affect your child's development?

We live in the digital age, an age of information at our fingertips, unlimited entertainment, and global connection. Screens have become an integral part of our lives, and our children are growing up immersed in the digital world. But how much is too much? When does screen time start to have a negative impact on children's development?

Excessive Screen Time: A Real Problem

Studies show that a child between the ages of 8 and 12 spends an average of 5.5 hours a day in front of a screen, and teenagers between 13 and 18 years old even reach 8.5 hours a day. In 2020, 35% of Romanian children aged 9 to 16 spent more than 3 hours a day online during the week, and 11% spent more than 5 hours, and the Save the Children Organization claims that 27.3% of children in Romania spend over 6 hours online daily, on a school day. These figures are alarming, especially considering that they do not include time spent on schoolwork.

How Much Is Too Much? Healthy Limits for Screen Time

Experts' recommendations vary. In general, the following is considered:

• Children under 3 years old: should not be exposed to screens at all.
• Children between 3 and 6 years old: should not spend more than 30 minutes a day in front of screens.
• Children between 7 and 10 years old: should be limited to a maximum of 120 minutes per day.
• Children between 11 and 14 years old: should be limited to 120 minutes per day.

Negative Effects of Excessive Screen Time on Child Development

Excessive screen exposure can have serious consequences on children's development, affecting both their physical and mental and emotional health.

Impact on physical health:

• Obesity: Screen time is usually sedentary time, which can lead to weight gain and obesity.
• Vision problems: The blue light emitted from screens can affect vision, causing eye strain, headaches, and even myopia.
• Sleep disorders: Melatonin, the hormone responsible for regulating the sleep-wake cycle, is affected by blue light, which can lead to difficulty falling asleep and poor quality sleep.
• Delayed motor development: Children who spend a lot of time in front of screens have fewer opportunities to develop their fine and gross motor skills, essential for coordination, balance, and movement.
• Incorrect posture: Prolonged sitting in front of screens can lead to adopting an incorrect posture, which can cause back, neck, and shoulder pain.

Impact on mental and emotional health:

• Difficulties with concentration and attention: Constant and rapid stimuli from screens can affect children's ability to concentrate, making them more easily distracted and less attentive.
• Delays in language development: Human interaction is essential for language development. Children who spend a lot of time in front of screens may have a poorer vocabulary and communication difficulties.
• Behavioral problems: Aggressiveness, impulsivity, irritability, and difficulty controlling emotions are associated with excessive screen consumption.
• Anxiety and depression: Studies show a correlation between screen time and an increased risk of anxiety and depression in children and adolescents.
• Social isolation: The virtual world can create a false sense of connection, to the detriment of real relationships. Children who spend too much time online may have difficulty making friends and maintaining healthy relationships.
• Virtual autism: "Virtual autism" is a term used to describe a set of symptoms similar to classic autism, observed in children excessively exposed to screens, especially under the age of 3 years. These symptoms include communication difficulties, attention problems, repetitive behaviors, and sleep disturbances.
• ADHD: A recent study showed a worrying correlation between screen time and the risk of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Children who spend 2 or more hours a day in front of screens have a 51% higher risk of developing ADHD.

Tutorina: An Ally in Managing Screen Time

Tutorina can help you manage your child's screen time by providing you with the tools you need to set limits, monitor online activity, and collaborate with your child to create a healthy balance between the virtual and real world.