An electronic device can be a lifesaver on a long car ride or during a restless wait at a restaurant. And for many families, that convenience can evolve into a familiar challenge: children wanting more screen time, leaving parents and caregivers looking for the right balance.
“As kids get older, it can get more complex,” says Emily Olson, MD, a pediatrician with ThedaCare Physicians Pediatrics-Neenah. “Once they begin to make friends and go to school, they’re exposed to what peers get to do. Their parents’ or caregivers’ guidelines may differ from your own.”
Many parents and caregivers find it challenging to navigate the electronic device landscape and create appropriate boundaries for screentime and overall use, Dr. Olson said. As children prepare to head back to the classrooms, she offered tips for helping parents and caregivers create healthy technology boundaries for them.
New Framework
Recognizing the evolving nature of technology use among children and teens, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently shared a new set of guidelines for parents as they evaluate what’s appropriate for their kids.
The guidelines, the 5 C’s of media use, encourage parents and caregivers to evaluate factors and questions as they relate to their unique child.
“The new guidelines reflect that time limits alone don’t address the complexity of determining what’s appropriate for your child and how technology use might be impacting them,” Dr. Olson said. “They are based on research and actions we know support family relationships, social-emotional development and mental health.”
The guidelines apply to infants, toddlers and preschoolers, school-age children, young teens and older teens, Dr. Olson said.
The Guidelines
The 5 C’s focus on media use as it relates to: the child, the content, ways to calm down, what media is crowding out and ongoing communication.
The child. Evaluate the personality of the child in question and how they use and relate to media. “Ask yourself, does my child use media and devices to connect to with friends and peers in healthy ways or does technology make it easier for them to retreat from social situations and increase loneliness and isolation?” Dr. Olson said.
The content. Monitor and understand the content a child is consuming. “Watch for concerns such as violence, hateful speech, reinforcement of unrealistic beauty standards, commercialism and modeling of rude or reckless behavior,” Dr. Olson said. “Talk with them about any problems you see.”
Calm. Kids of all ages often turn to devices and apps as a calming mechanism. “Be mindful of whether your child is using technology to avoid challenging emotions or situations,” Dr. Olson said. “Do they have other strategies for calming themselves? If not, talk with your child’s pediatrician. They can offer ideas and refer you to resources and services such as counseling if needed.”
Crowding out. Technology may become a single-minded focus for kids, causing them to spend less time doing activities they used to love such as playing, reading, sports or art. “Overindulging in technology also can negatively impact kids’ sleep and take the focus away from completing important tasks such as homework,” Dr. Olson said. The AAP recommends reframing the discussion as a positive and reminding kids what they can gain from keeping their interests broad. “This could be more time to play family games or participate in a sport.”
Communication. Keep the lines of communication open. “Begin this at an early age and make it an ongoing priority,” Dr. Olson advised. “Through helping your child develop sound judgment and reinforcing boundaries, you can help set the stage for them developing healthy habits around technology.”
Navigating technology use among children can be among the most challenging tasks of parenting, Dr. Olson said. “As pediatricians, we’re here to help as your child develops habits that keep them physically and mentally well as they grow. Helping them learn to use technology in a safe and responsible way can be a huge undertaking but one worth pursuing.”
Parents and caregivers with questions about their children’s technology use are encouraged to speak with a pediatrician for personalized guidance. Connect with one at ThedaCare Pediatrics.
