Parenting Advice From Your Physicians at Kaiser Permanente

Many parents are worried their children have too much screen time. Between looking at their phones, doing online homework, and gaming, it can feel like our kids never look up from their screens! Kids’ screen time increased during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent study shows that not only did their time online increase but, it has remained high even as pandemic-related restrictions eased. And this time is mostly being spent for entertainment – not education.

What’s a parent to do? Here are 10 tips to try:

1. Schedule regular screen-free time together. Family dinners are a great place to start. Family walks, game nights, and sporting events are also fun.
2. Use family dinners to talk about your family’s media use. Kids are so smart – when you want to reset your family’s media use, start by asking for their input. One technique is to make a list of what they want to do each day and how screen time fits into that list. Ask them something like: “If you sleep for 8 hours, eat for 1, go to school for 7 – what do you want to do with the left-over time? Play with friends, play sports, read, talk with your family, etc? How much time do you want to spend online?” You may be surprised that they come up with their own limits and “rules.”
3. Set a good example. It’s hard for kids to take us seriously when we ask them to put down their phones if we are also always on our phones. “Do as I say, not as I do” doesn’t really work. So, be sure to put your devices down and on silent mode when you are eating dinner or playing games together.
4. Co-view media together. Sharing time watching what your kids are interested in gives you an opportunity to understand their interests better – and to have a dialog about what you see. Doing so offers a chance to learn together and to discuss your family values as they relate to what you have seen.
5. Do not feel pressured to introduce technology early. Your young kids will not fall behind if they aren’t on the latest technology from the beginning. Trust that kids can learn to use new devices and media easily when the time is appropriate.
6. Skip media use for kids under 2. Children under age 2 are not yet able to learn from a screen. Instead, they learn by interacting with their caregivers – talking, singing, playing, and reading with them.
7. Limit screen time for kids under 5. Letting kids watch something can give tired parents a much needed break but try to:
   • Limit their screen time to 1 hour a day or less.
   • Choose only high-quality educational apps and shows.
   • Avoid any violent content, as well as rapidly changing, distracting, or fast-paced programs (young children don’t understand them).
8. Stop the use of devices or screens 1 hour before bedtime. For the best night’s sleep, keep devices out of bedrooms and charge them in the kitchen overnight.
9. Discourage media use for entertainment while doing homework. Certainly, lots of homework is done or turned in online, but – talk with your kids about the costs of multitasking. Studying interrupted by watching TikTok or texting is not as effective as distraction-free studying.

10. Talk with children about the risks of online activity and screen what media they use. Children need to be able to recognize risks online and feel empowered to speak up about them. Be upfront about what they should look out for, so kids can recognize any red flags before they turn into a bigger problem. Use sites like Common Sense Media to decide if apps, games, movies, and TV shows are appropriate for your child.

Resources For Parents

American Academy of Pediatrics

Beyond Screen Time: Help Your Kids Build Healthy Media Use Habits