Screen Time: The Effects on Your Child’s Health
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are reports that children ages eight to 10 spend an average of six hours per day in front of a screen, kids ages 11 to 14 spend an average of nine hours per day in front of a screen, and youth ages 15 to 18 spend an average of seven-and-a-half hours per day in front of a screen.
How much time have your children been spending in front of a screen? The World Health Organization (WHO) shared that as of April 25, 2020 around 1.5 billion children have been out of school and as a result, many of them have been spending more time on screens for class, to complete online schoolwork, to socialize with peers, or to play video games.
In addition to the screen time affecting your eyes and encouraging a lack of physical activity, many children are also vulnerable to harmful content (violent or sexual), misinformation about COVID-19, cyberbullying, and development of gaming disorder as they spend more time on those screens.
Our youth needs support from parents and guardians, school authorities, healthcare providers, and gaming companies to enforce the reduced screen time.
Ways to Reduce Screen Time
As a parent, there are some options to help reduce the time your child spends staring at a screen. Here are some suggestions of what you can do to help:
1. Spend Time Together as a Family
You can never have too much quality time with family. Encourage your child to join you in a family game night or have a nice, sit down dinner where you can catch up.
2. Set Screen Limits
If your child is spending too much time staring at screens in a day, set boundaries. Take the time to explain that they only have a specified amount of time (that you decide) to play video games or video chat with friends.
3. Be Active
Encourage your child to take a break from the screen, go out, and do something active outside. Whether it is running or swimming in the pool, any way to get your children outside is a great choice.
Contact South Coast Medical Group OC if You’re Feeling Sick
If you are not feeling well and would like to receive the COVID-19 antibody test, please call us at (949) 360-1069 to schedule an appointment.
If you would like to set up an in-person or telemedicine visit, our hours of operation are:
Monday-Friday: 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Sunday: 10:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
The safety of our patients and staff is our top priority. We are located in Aliso Viejo, California, and we offer a wide range of services such as: urgent and primary care, sports medicine, and x-rays. If you need help with any of these services, please contact us at (949) 389- 8968. We appreciate the trust our patients have in us and look forward to being of service to you.
