EAGAN, Minn - Now that kids are getting out of school for the year, how much of their summer will be spent in front of a screen?
It’s a constant battle between parents and their kids, but how much is too much?
“Media is ever present, it’s always there,” Fairview Clinic pediatrician Adam Foss says.
The answer isn’t as easy as you’d think, Foss says.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recently changed its recommendations for screen use.
In years past they’ve focused largely on screen time limits, but the group now feels screen time isn’t as important as monitoring the types of content kids are watching.
“A lot of what we do with media is getting very passive interactions thrown at us,” Foss explains.
Doctors say there’s a big difference between educational content, which is more engaging and interactive, and non-educational content, which is more passive and doesn’t stimulate a child’s brain the same way.
“They’re not getting a lot of that cognitive type thinking, as far as problem solving skills,” Foss explains.
When it comes to educational use, the American Academy of Pediatrics says screen time limits aren’t very important.
However, when it comes to non-educational uses, the group suggests a limit of one to two hours a day for kids six and older.
For kids two to six years old, the group recommends the same limit, but strongly recommends that parents only let their kids watch educational content.
“Between 18 months and age two, it’s okay to introduce some high quality educational programming, but really try to keep it limited,” Foss says.
For kids under 18 months, Foss says screen use is not recommended.
“There really should be no screen time other than a screen chat with grandma and grandpa, or something like that,” Foss says.
Apple just announced a new feature on its smartphones where users can monitor their screen time.
Doctors say the new feature may help parents prevent technology addiction in their kids.
"You really want to limit those other things such as social media and other forms of media to less than one to two hours per day."