While screens are a part of today’s culture, there are increased health benefits linked to reducing screen time, including improved physical health, decreased obesity and more time to play and explore.
The Canadian Pediatric Society Recommends:
- For children under 2 years old, screen time is not recommended.
- For children 2-5 years old, limit screen time to less than 1 hour per day.
- For children older than 5 years old, limit screen time to less than 2 hours per day.
Screen Time Strategies
- Role Model – Be a good role model with your own screen time. Be sure to put your phone down and connect with your children as often as possible.
- Be accountable – Set expectations with your children and create goals together to help reduce screen time. Many devices have features to set time limits for use.
- Be realistic – If your children spend a lot of time on screens, including watching TV, start by setting smaller, more obtainable goals. Instead of jumping to the recommended one to two hours or less per day, start by cutting current screen time in half.
- Be engaged – After school or work, spend time each day face to face with your children and give them your full attention.
- Put hand-held devices away – During screen free hours, put devices away or at a charging station in a common area so they’re not attracting your children’s attention.
- Create phone-free zones in the home – Making family meals and bedtime routines, a phone-free zone is a great place to start.
- Avoid using screens at bedtime – Turn off screens an hour before bedtime.
- Go outside! – Putting down the phone and taking a walk or playing outdoors increases your endorphins and provides feelings of happiness in your brain, boosting your mood and improving your physical health. Check out these resources in Calgary for ideas on where you can go: CalgaryPlaygroundReview.com
