Avoid giving smartphone to calm down your kid, say experts

In a world where we’re surrounded by all kinds of digital media, trying to figure out how much screen time is good for kids can be challenging.

The new recommendations call for children under the age of 18 months to be permitted no screen time, and all other children under the age of 5 to be allowed a maximum of one hour per day, the media outlets said.

Experts said children under 18 months should avoid all screen time except video chatting.

Dr. George said using electronic media constructively for less than 1 hour at a time is ok for a 1.5 year old child, but there is a right way and a wrong way for parents to handle it.

2 to 5 years old: This one could be hard – one hour of screen time a day. The guidelines again recommend high-quality, education media suited for children, such as Sesame Street and PBS. CBS News reported that the recommendations vary by age group, 0-5 years old and School-age children (5-18 years old), which include several pieces of advice to make sure that parents are aware of what is happening to their children.

The AAP said it also recommends parents prioritize creative, unplugged playtime for infants and toddlers.

The AAP has created an online tool to help parents create a personalized Family Media Use Plan.

– Avoid media use in the hour leading up to bedtime.

“It’s not isolating”, she said. Parents should ensure TV programs and games aren’t interfering with a child’s sleep, physical activity and time spent reading and learning.

Designate media-free times for parents and children such as dinnertime or when children are passengers in a auto.

The AAP has a “Healthy Children” site that allows parents to construct a family media plan that works for them. “We don’t always have to think of it as passive screen time“. “It’s really what the child is doing with it and how they’re using it”.

However, parents have to talk to kids, especially teens, about the risks of digital media – including “cyberbullying, engaging in sexting, and being accessible to advertisements and online predators”, Chassiakos said.

Despite the best intentions of limiting time using media, it has become ingrained in the culture of daily life.

Parents who want to introduce shows and apps to their kids should watch and interact as they do so, not leave them alone. One of the reasons is to help their kids learn about things faster than they did in the past. “Communication is interactive. I say something, and they say something back”.

A healthy home that tries to limit screen time must also designate when media-free times are going to take place and with whom.

The new guidelines represent a shift to making moms and dads “media mentors”.

– Research shows children and teenagers can benefit from media use, including learning new information, exposure to new ideas and social support.

And let’s face it, sometimes it’s fun for both the kid and the parent to watch Minions for the 30th time. However, some data suggest that over-reliance on media can mess up kids’ sleep and exercise habits, as well as their social, language, and cognitive development-for example, if they veg out in front of the TV for hours.