Did you know that kids between 8 and 12 years old spend an average of 4 hours and 44 minutes per day using screens? That’s a massive 32% of their waking hours! With so much time spent on screens, parents need to know the right screen time recommendations by age. In this guide, we’ll talk about how too much screen time can affect neurodivergent kids and how to create healthy screen habits for your child. So, let’s get started and find the perfect balance for your family.
Table of Contents
Understanding Screen Time Recommendations by Age
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has created guidelines to help parents with screen time. These guidelines are for kids without learning differences. For neurodivergent kids or kids with thinking and learning differences, it’s important to adjust these recommendations based on their needs. Here’s what the AAP suggests:
- Under 18 months: Avoid screens, except for video chats.
- 18-24 months: Little amounts of high-quality shows with a parent watching too.
- 2-5 years: No more than 1 hour per day of high-quality shows.
- 6 years and older: Set limits on screen time and make sure it doesn’t take away from sleep, exercise, and other important activities.
It’s crucial to remember that these guidelines are not one-size-fits-all. Every child is different, and it’s essential to adapt these recommendations to your child’s unique needs and circumstances. Please keep an open dialogue with your child’s healthcare provider to ensure you’re making the best decisions for their well-being.
Why Screen Time Is Important for Neurodivergent Kids
Too much screen time can affect all kids, but it’s extra important for parents of neurodivergent kids to know the risks. Using screens too much can make symptoms of ADHD, autism, and other learning differences worse. This can lead to more anxiety, worse social skills, and even bad sleep.
That’s why it’s important to watch and adjust screen time recommendations by age for neurodivergent kids. By being proactive and understanding the potential impact of screen time, you can create a healthier and more balanced environment for your child’s growth and development.
Read More: Visual Schedules
Creating Healthy Screen Time Habits
Now that we know the recommendations, let’s look at some helpful ways to make good screen time habits for your kids. These strategies can help your child develop a positive relationship with technology and ensure they’re using screens in a productive and beneficial manner.
1. Make a Screen Time Schedule
Create a daily routine with set times for using screens. This helps kids know when it’s okay to use screens and stops them from using screens too much. Consistency is key, so try to stick to the schedule as much as possible. This can help your child establish a sense of structure and predictability around their screen time usage.
Customize visual schedules that teach kids independence. No more nagging, no more stress.
2. Choose Active Screen Time
Not all screen time is the same. Pick activities that help learning, creativity, and problem-solving, like educational apps or fun games. This makes sure screen time is helpful for your child’s growth.
Instead of passively watching videos, encourage your child to engage with interactive content that challenges their mind and keeps them actively involved. This can maximize the benefits of screen time and promote cognitive development.
3. Have Device-Free Zones and Times
Choose areas in your home without screens, like the dining table or bedrooms. Also, set times when screens aren’t allowed, like during dinner or an hour before bedtime.
Establishing these boundaries can help your child learn to disengage from screens and focus on other important aspects of their life, such as family time, homework, and self-care routines.
4. Show Healthy Screen Time Behavior Yourself
Kids learn from what they see, so parents should show good screen time habits too. Be careful with your screen usage and set a positive example for your kids. By modeling responsible screen time behavior, you can help your child develop healthy habits that will serve them well throughout their lives.
Screen Time and Learning: Hitting the Sweet Spot
When used the right way, screen time can help kids learn, especially kids with thinking and learning differences. The key is to create a balance between screen-based learning and other educational experiences. Here are some tips to make learning with screens work best:
- Pick high-quality, age-appropriate content that your child likes and helps them learn.
- Talk with your child during screen time by asking questions, talking about the content, and getting them curious.
- Balance screen learning with hands-on activities and real-life experiences for well-rounded growth.
- Encourage your child to use learning apps, like Goally, made for neurodivergent kids to learn important skills and habits.
By incorporating these strategies, you can help ensure that your child’s screen time is both engaging and educational, contributing to their overall development and success.
Goally | Apps To Structure Your Kiddo’s Routine
Does your child struggle with transitions or staying on task? Goally’s visual schedule app breaks down large tasks into small, achievable steps. It helps kids complete their tasks independently!
Create custom routines with your own videos & pictures for every step. The steps come in small, bite-sized pieces to help your child learn the little fundamentals (like putting the toothpaste on their toothbrush!) to achieve bigger goals. And that’s just the beginning.
Build Custom Printable Visual Schedules
Is your child having trouble managing their routines? Here’s a free visual schedule builder. Goally’s custom tool allows you to create printable personalized schedules that motivate your child to focus on their tasks. Perfect for morning, homework, and bedtime routines, this free visual schedule builder is easy to use and will help your child reach their full potential.
Click below to make your CUSTOM printable visual schedule! 👇
Final Thoughts: Finding the Perfect Balance
Managing screen time can be hard for any parent, but it’s important for raising healthy, well-rounded kids. By following the screen time recommendations by age and using the ideas in this guide, you can help your child have a healthy relationship with screens and grow in the best way. Remember, every child is different, so feel free to modify the recommendations to fit your child’s needs.
FAQs About Screen Time Recommendations by Age
What are the recommended screen time limits for toddlers? For toddlers aged 18 to 24 months, screen time should be limited to educational programming, with a caregiver present for interaction and learning.
How much screen time is recommended for preschoolers? For preschoolers aged 2 to 5 years, the daily screen time limit is generally recommended to be no more than one hour of high-quality programming.
What is the recommended screen time for school-aged children and adolescents? For children and adolescents aged 6 and older, it's crucial to ensure a balance of physical activity, sleep, and other behaviors with daily screen time.
How does excessive screen time impact children? Excessive screen time can lead to poor sleep, obesity, and behavioral issues in children, while also detracting from time spent on physical activity and face-to-face social interaction.
Are there any benefits to limited, quality screen time? Yes, high-quality programming can provide educational benefits, promote creativity, and provide opportunities for family bonding if consumed in moderation and under guidance.
This post was originally published on April 22, 2023 . It was updated on June 25, 2023.
Goally
We help parents teach their kids life skills, like doing bedtime and morning independently. Backed by science, we incorporate evidence-based practices and expert-informed designs in all of our apps and content.
