Kids and Screens: These Are Parents’ Concerns During the Pandemic

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, parents worry that their children will become addicted to screens, if they weren’t already.

By Sherin Shibu

Most parents trust their children’s ability to regulate how much time they spend on a screen, and that confidence has only increased since April. An August Morning Consult survey found that 72 percent of parents now believe that their children know the appropriate amount of time for recreational purposes, and 75 percent trust their kids’ time online for educational purposes. (The story continues below the infographic.)

They still worry though: 85 percent of parents are concerned about how much time their children spend online, and more than half think that their children will be addicted to screens by the end of the pandemic, according to Ubreakifix. Screens have become a necessity instead of an avoidable option during the novel coronavirus, and saying no to kids is more difficult than ever for parents of the 80 percent of children who have to use computers for remote learning.

Parents aren’t worrying without cause. Nearly half of children now spend six hours or more online a day, a staggering 500 percent increase from 2019.

So what’s so dangerous about screen time? According to Ubreakifix, it can cause developmental delays in children under two years of age who watch at least one hour of television a day. Toddlers who use screens too frequently are more likely to experience emotional problems. And teens and young adults who use social media too often are susceptible to higher rates of depression and suicide.

Screens aren’t all bad though: There’s a difference between actively participating and mindlessly scrolling. Active participation could include video chatting or creating new content on YouTube. Watching television is a more passive activity and has been shown to have more negative effects than gaming or computer use.

If you have to use a screen, here are some best practices to follow:

1. Keep screens away from the bedroom and ideally in a shared space. You want less sleep problems and more attention to how they interact with them.
2. Implement parental controls. There are some things that children should not have access to, and it’s easier than ever now to control what they see.
3. If something negative comes up, talk it out. Talking about issues, instead of pushing them under the virtual rug, is the best way to deal with them.
4. Have screen-free times. Another way to frame this is to have time that they’re allowed to be on screens, to reduce the window of use.
5. Communicate clear expectations for screen time. Make sure you and your child are on the same page.

Originally published at https://www.pcmag.com.