Examining Screen Time for Children: A Canadian Study

Impact of Screen Time on Child Development

A Canadian study has explored new dimensions of screen time usage among children, focusing on parenting strategies from both mothers and fathers. Prolonged exposure to screens can adversely affect both adults and children. Notably, excessive screen time in children is associated with various developmental and behavioral disorders, learning challenges, and obesity. The statistics regarding childhood obesity are concerning, with over 41 million children worldwide aged five and under classified as overweight. In Canada, the situation is similarly alarming, as obesity rates among children continue to rise, with one in three children being overweight.

Current Guidelines and Parental Roles

Canadian health guidelines recommend limiting recreational TV watching for preschoolers to less than one hour a day, and they advise zero screen time for children under the age of two. Parents play a crucial role in influencing their children’s habits, prompting a reevaluation of media parenting practices. A recent study published in BMC Obesity aimed to address these concerns.

Professor Lisa Tang from the University of Guelph explained, “We wanted to investigate the impact of parenting practices on toddler and preschooler’s screen time because this is the age when habits and routines become established and they tend to continue throughout life … also, the use of mobile devices, such as tablets and smartphones, has soared in popularity among this age group in recent years.”

Study Participant Profile and Findings

The research involved 62 children aged between one-and-a-half to five years old. Parents provided insights into the amount of screen time they permit and how they monitor it, along with their own screen time habits in the presence of their children.

Screen Time as a Reward

The findings revealed that the average screen time for children is one-and-a-half hours on weekdays and approximately two hours on weekends. Notably, many parents reported using screen time as a reward for good behavior, which resulted in children spending an additional twenty minutes in front of screens on weekends compared to weekdays.

Furthermore, children who eat meals in front of screens tend to accumulate more screen time than those who do not. The study also found that children who observe their parents, especially their mothers, using screens during shared time are likely to imitate these behaviors.

Professor Jess Haines from the research team noted, “We think the amount of screen time is higher on weekends because children are at home and typically have more interaction with their parents. It’s possible the parent is allowing the child to be in front of a screen while they are.”

However, she pointed out that parents of younger children often have more flexibility in managing their screen time while their children nap or go to bed. As children grow older and require less napping, it becomes increasingly challenging for parents to limit their own screen time away from their children.

Recommendations for Parents

Haines suggested that screens should not be included during meals, as this is an important opportunity for family bonding. If parents choose to restrict screen time during meals, consistency in enforcing this rule is essential.

Overall, the study emphasizes that before altering children’s screen time routines, parents should reflect on their own screen habits. Professor Tang highlighted the necessity of recognizing that sedentary activities, such as screen use, correlate with a heightened risk of obesity and may hinder the development of academic and social skills later in life. She added that screen time detracts from interactions that foster essential developmental skills in children.

The research team aims for these insights to empower parents navigating a world dominated by screens. By understanding the long-term impacts of screen time, parents may reconsider using it as a reward for good behavior.

Reference

Tang L, Darlington G, MaD WL, Haines J. Mothers’ and fathers’ media parenting practices associated with young children’s screen-time: a cross-sectional study. BMC Obesity. 2019.