Tips for Reducing Children’s Screen Time

The new law limiting screen use in Indiana schools offers an opportunity for parents to reassess their children's screen time at home. Most parents find a simple time limit is insufficient, so more complex considerations are necessary. Of course, it can be tricky to figure out the best rules to set. Luckily, the American Academy of Pediatrics has a list of recommendations to start the process: the 5 Cs of media use. The basic principles are as follows:

1. Child. Consider your kid's personality and how they use technology now. Is your child easily persuaded by or skeptical of what they view? Are they attracted to instructional and artistic content? Does your child tend to build healthy relationships with others online, or are they anxious about their online social contacts? Of course, if you have two or three children close to the same age, you will want to consider all of their traits before making any rules for the sake of consistency and fairness.
2. Content. If you haven't yet, spend time getting to know what your kids are viewing. Are the games they're playing violent? Do they contain elements that feel inappropriate for their age? Is the content encouraging them to want and to buy material things, much like commercials on television? Does the content make them laugh, observe the world more closely, feel empathy for others, reduce their attention span, feel anxiety about their appearance or get angry? Does the content mainly seem healthy or unhealthy for them? Can you suggest healthier replacements? You may, of course, notice a mixture in content quality, but try to figure out the balance.
3. Calm. How dependent has your kid become on screens for emotional control? Are they using the content for soothing their mood, settling down or falling asleep? If so, talk to your kid's pediatrician about alternative methods.
4. Crowding out. What experiences might you and your kids be missing out on because of screen time? Do your children resist time at the park, at a swimming pool or at a reunion because they'd rather be online? Are they using screens during family time meant for other things, such as dinner? Are there times you can switch to a big screen - such as a family movie - over personal screens?
5. Communication. Talk to your kids about media use. They may resist that conversation, so it's okay to ease your way into it. Listen closely. Try not to dismiss what they say. Make sure you discuss media regularly. Get a sense for what your kids are getting out of what they view and what they think its purpose is. Building digital literacy is critical for all of us, especially young people. However, your children should know that much of the content they view is designed to be addictive. Regular conversations can also help you recognize signs that your child is having difficulty controlling their use of online content.

Finally, take a look at your own screen time and the screen-related behaviors you're modeling for your child - children often pay more attention to what we do than what we say!

Once you've considered these steps, you can build a media plan for your family. Find a template developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics at healthychildren.org/English/fmp/Pages/MediaPlan.aspx. Feel free to ask your pediatrician for advice about that media plan. If you are worried your child is addicted to screen use and may have an internet use disorder, consult with that child's pediatrician. If you are seeking one, please reach out to Eskenazi Health Connections at 317.880.7666.

Dana-Lynn Hiller, M.D., Pediatrician at Eskenazi Health