Project Description

Parents often struggle to determine the amount of time their children should be spending in front of a screen each day. We live in a digital age where kids are exposed to technology throughout the day: television, smartphones, tablets, and more. Many parents know that they should limit the time their child spends looking at a screen, but there are often questions about how much screen time should be allowed.

What Does the American Academy of Pediatrics Suggest?

The best thing that you can do is talk to your family optometrist to learn recommendations for your child. Regular eye exams provide an opportunity to talk to an eye doctor about your individual needs. Another option is to look online for trusted sources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

The guidelines that have been set by the AAP show that screen time should vary depending on the age of the child. How is screen time labeled? Any time that the child spends looking at a digital screen, regardless of the size of the device.

For a long time, the blanket suggestion was to limit each child to no more than two hours per day. Now, the recommendations have changed, depending on the age of the child and the type of media that is consumed. You can look online to see the Family Media Use Plan which gives a calculation for your child’s individual situation.

Entertainment vs. Educational Screen Time

One of the reasons the AAP adjusted the recommendations for screen time is because they saw the need to distinguish between entertainment vs. educational screen time. Parents should consider the way the child is using the device to decide how much time should be allowed.

For example, students can benefit from using the internet to research and watch tutorials that support their school work. The quality of this screen time is very different than time spent watching a movie or playing video games. So, instead of limiting all screen time, consider the benefits of limiting media entertainment.

Why Should Screen Time be Limited?

If you want to support your child in maintaining healthy eyes, then it is important to monitor the time they spend in front of a screen. There are a variety of symptoms that can arise from staring at a screen, including eye strain, pain, dry eyes, headaches, and more. These symptoms are often categorized under the diagnosis of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS).

When you are looking at a screen, the eyes tend to follow the same path over and over again. Similar to carpal tunnel syndrome or other repetitive injuries, this motion can strain the muscles and lead to injury or discomfort. The risk increases if there isn’t proper lighting in the room.

Talk to an Experienced Eye Doctor

If you are interested in learning more about how screen time might be affecting your child, then we invite you to talk to an experienced optometrist for more information. Call our office today to schedule an exam!