Mahaska Health Partnership Gives Screen Time Recommendations for Kids
Mahaska Health Partnership
MAHASKA COUNTY – TV’s, phones, computers, laptops; screens are everywhere! Whether it’s at home, school or the car, kids have easy access to screens. However, too much screen time can cause long-term side effects. Mahaska Health Partnership offers tips to reduce your child’s screen time.
Screen time refers to activities done in front of a screen such as watching TV, playing video games or using a computer or tablet. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children younger than 2 years old have minimal or no screen time and children from 2 – 18 years have less than two hours per day.
“Spending too much time in front of a screen disrupts the body’s natural sleep-wake (Circadian) cycles, making it hard to fall asleep at night,” MHP Pediatrician Dr. John O’Brien explained. “This can lead to poor performance in school due to tiredness, as well as grumpy moods and issues at home or with other kids. Increased screen time has also been linked to increasing levels of obesity due to inactivity.
“It’s easy to give your child a phone or tablet to entertain them,” Dr. O’Brien continued. “However, this can affect them throughout their lifetime, so consider other activities to encourage movement and lessen their risk of health complications later on.”
Some tips Dr. O’Brien shared included removing the TV from your child’s bedroom. “As tempting as it may be to put a TV in their room, I strongly discourage it. Instead, have the TV in a common gathering area like your living room where you can control how much time is spent watching it.”
Another tip was to choose TV shows to watch ahead of time and turn the TV off when the show is over. “By choosing shows, it’s easier to monitor the amount of time the family spends in front of the TV,” Dr. O’Brien suggested. “Many devices now have software such as alarms or auto-shut off. Take advantage of those too!”
Does your family love video games? Dr. O’Brien suggests ones that promote activity. “There are many new games that get your family up and moving, rather than sitting stationary. Try one of those as a family activity for bonding time and screen time all wrapped into one! If you’re not a fan of those, try a board game that removes the screen but promotes family time too.”
Dr. O’Brien stressed the importance of family time over screen time. “There are a wide variety of activities you can do as a family that offer greater bonding experiences compared to sitting in front of the TV. Try an activity outside, visit the park, join a sports team or attend a special event in town. Your children won’t remember watching the latest episode of their favorite show 10 years down the road; they will remember the moments spent with their family!”
Pediatrician Dr. John O’Brien specializes in the care of children from birth to 21 years. Dr. O’Brien believes children are capable of doing wondering things. He has enjoyed helping them achieve their potential in good physical and emotional health for more than 28 years. Dr. O’Brien has made great strides treating children with ADHD and prides himself on educating parents. He is now accepting new patients. To schedule an appointment with Dr. O’Brien, call 641.672.3360.
Mahaska Health Partnership, located in Oskaloosa, is a non-profit health system accredited by the Joint Commission. It is guided by its mission to provide exceptional customer service and health improvement, linking the science of medicine with the humanity of compassionate care. For more information about how Mahaska Health Partnership is making healthcare personal, look us up on the web: mahaskahealth.org.
