Let’s talk about screen time for children…
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends these acceptable amounts of screen time limits:
- No screen time for children under 2
- One hour per day for children 2 to 12
- Two hours per day for teens and adults
Limiting screen time for children offers several benefits, including:
- Improved Physical Health: Reducing screen time encourages more physical activity, which can help prevent obesity and related health issues.
- Better Sleep: Less screen time, especially before bed, can improve sleep quality and duration, as the blue light emitted by screens can interfere with the sleep-wake cycle.
- Enhanced Social Skills: Limiting screen time encourages more face-to-face interactions, helping children develop better communication and social skills.
- Improved Academic Performance: Less screen time can lead to better focus and concentration on homework and study, potentially improving academic performance.
What are some other activities can you and your kids engage in instead of screen time?
- Go outside: Putting down the phone and taking a walk or playing outdoors increases your endorphins and provides that feeling of happiness in your brain, boosting your mood and improving your physical health.
- Arts and crafts: Engaging in arts and crafts helps children express their creativity and imagination, allowing them to create something unique and original.
- Cooking or baking: Allowing children to help you cook leads to the enhancement of math skills. Measuring ingredients, following recipes, and understanding proportions and quantities help children practice and improve their math skills in a practical and enjoyable way.
Are you looking for a pediatrician in the Arlington, TX area? Look no further than Dr. Dolina from Arlington TX Pediatrics. You can read more about him here or schedule your first appointment by calling us at (817) 467-1300.