Limiting Your Kids' Screen Time

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Limiting Your Kids' Screen Time

Did you know that kids who watch TV, play on the computer, and play video games a lot are risking a lifetime of health problems? It's a proven fact: too much screen time is associated with:

* violent behavior
* poor school performance
* lower reading scores
* sleep pattern disturbances
* being overweight
* consumption of junk food
* bad habits later in life (like tobacco and alcohol abuse)

Although some screen time can be educational and even encourage physical activity, it's all too easy to get sucked in. Help your kids find other things to do.

Limiting screen time benefits the whole family

The growing array of screens in childrens' lives including TV, video and computer games, DVDs, the Internet, videos shown in the car, and even cell phone text messaging, games and shows, are competing with the amount of time spent in active and imaginative play, reading, or family interaction.

"The wonderful thing about reducing screen time...is that healthy children will almost automatically become more physically active and personally interactive," says Kaiser Permanente pediatrician Phil Wu, MD. "Without the mind-numbing effect of too many hours of screen time, their natural desire to be up and around doing creative and interactive things will surface. As a family, you can tap into that creativity and increase everyone's activity level."

Tips for reducing screen time:

* Turn off the TV during meals, which encourages everyone to eat and talk together.
* Keep computers, TVs, and video game consoles out of kid's bedrooms.
* Don't use screen time as a reward.
* Designate certain days of the week as screen-free days.

What you can do instead:

* Exercise as a family by taking walks, riding bikes, or playing sports or active games together.
* Do something active for at least 60 minutes each day.
* Set up screen free play dates.
* Read a book, listen to music, or encourage your kids to write a story, draw, or create an art project, if you need some quiet, down-time.

If you have a toddler or preschooler

Keep your little one busy, safe, and happy when you are trying to get something done. Here are alternatives to screen time when you're preparing meals and for other occasions:
* Set up a kitchen play station with a spoon and small bowl, plastic containers or other safe household materials or toys.
* Get kids three and older to help (set the table, tear lettuce for salad, or decorate place cards).
* Engage an older sibling or neighbor to keep the kids safely amused.
* Recorded books on tape or CD (often available from libraries) are a great alternative when you can't do the reading yourself.
* Young children can be marvelously creative with some tape or glue and commonly available recycled household materials such as toilet paper tubes, cereal cartons, fabric scraps (or worn-out clothes), egg cartons, yogurt containers, and lids.

Source: Kaiser Permanente Healthy Kids Watch Less TV Coalition
Reviewed by: Phil Wu, MD and Richard Freed, PhD, March 2008