There is an excellent article in The Hill by Dr. Jenny Radesky, a pediatrician who helped to write the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines about screen time and media use. The World Health Organization recently released a suggestion that parents limit young children's screen time, including no screen time for children under the age of two. The AAP guidelines are not quite so strict, but both recommendations emphasize the importance of prioritizing social interaction, play that lets the child's mind take the lead, and getting enough sleep.
The article by Radesky points out that though children are getting too much screen time, this is not something we should be wagging our fingers at parents about, but looking to make some systemic changes in the design of our digital environment, which is designed to prolong engagement. As she said, "We are basically asking each family to figure out how to be a gatekeeper to the most enormous, unregulated playground their child has ever entered." A much greater impact can occur when we change the environment to make it more healthy. Check out the article for some specific suggestions and resources.
If you are looking for resources and ideas about Media Mentorship, remember the resources pulled together as part of an LSTA grant in 2015 (kept updated with new resources).
Labels: AAP, early childhood, infants and toddlers, media mentors, screen time, WHO
