From the Guidelines
Children under 2 years should have no screen time except for video chatting with family, while children 2-5 years should limit their screen time to 1 hour of high-quality programming daily, with parents co-viewing to help them understand the content. This recommendation is based on the most recent and highest quality study available, which suggests that excessive screen time is associated with negative consequences for development, including language delays, sleep problems, attention issues, and reduced physical activity 1. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that pediatricians advise parents to avoid TV viewing for children younger than 2 years and limit screen use to 1 hour per day for children aged 2 to 5 years 1.
Some key points to consider when implementing these recommendations include:
- Establishing screen-free times, such as during meals and before bedtime
- Creating screen-free zones in bedrooms
- Prioritizing educational, age-appropriate content
- Actively monitoring what children watch
- Encouraging physical activity, sleep, and social interaction
The developing brain needs diverse real-world experiences, face-to-face interactions, and physical play for optimal development, and excessive screen time can hinder this process 1. By creating a family media plan that balances screen time with other healthy activities, parents can help establish good habits early in life and promote healthy development in their children.
It's also important to note that the content children consume matters as much as the time spent, and parents should be mindful of the potential risks associated with excessive screen time, including language delays, sleep problems, attention issues, and reduced physical activity 1. By being aware of these risks and taking steps to mitigate them, parents can help promote healthy development in their children and reduce the potential negative consequences of excessive screen time.
From the Research
Screen Time for Children: Impact on Sleep and Cognitive Function
- There is no direct evidence in the provided studies to answer the question about screen time for children.
- However, the studies suggest that sleep deprivation and poor sleep quality can have a negative impact on cognitive function, including attention and working memory, in adults and young adults 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- Sleep disorders have been shown to affect attentional performance, particularly sustained attention, in patients with sleep disorders 2.
- A 24-h sleep deprivation period has been found to reduce several specific components of basic cognitive processes, including attention, working memory, and executive functions 4.
- Insufficient sleep has been linked to decreased cognitive performance, including working memory and response inhibition, in healthy adults 5.
- Poor sleep quality has been associated with a negative cognitive bias, decreased sustained attention, and increased affective symptomatology, including depressive symptoms, anxiety, and mood disturbances 6.