Screen time for Children

Screen-time or digital-screen exposure is the duration of time spent by the individual in using electronic/digital media like television (TV), smartphone, tablet or computer . As per American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines , children below the age of two years should not have any screen exposure, and screen time of ≥1 hour per day is considered excessive among children aged 2-5 years. Also, for the proper growth and development of children, the use of digital-media should be restricted while eating meals, or one hour before sleep. Excessive screen time is predominantly associated with sedentary behaviors in children and adolescents . Excessive screen time is considered as one of the major role players in causing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and health risks later in life.

CONSEQUENCES OF INCREASED Screen Time
Early Consequences
The child’s frequency of TV watching was found to be significantly associated with delayed motor skills, cognitive and language development. The content of TV has a detrimental effect on cognitive development . A Japanese study observed that children aged 30 months, had increased chances of being hyperactive/inattentive due to excessive TV-viewing . Augmented digital media usage leads to reduced sleep, which in turn leads to increased TV exposure that seems to have a wider impact on the sleep quality . Greater household chaos leading to excessive screen time is also related to disrupted nighttime sleep. Due to a lack of positive role models, and indiscriminate watching of media content, children might have behavioral problems .

Late Consequences
Long-standing consequences of digital media use predict worsened behavioral outcomes in the children when they grow older . Development path of the children exposed to excessive digitalmedia may lead to unhealthy adolescence . In the school, they are less likely to get engaged, and may be prone to victimization . Children with accentuated screen time have a predominantly higher prevalence of overweight, obesity and Non Communicable Diseases