Screen Time and Sleep
Screen time is something all young families consider when choosing how to raise their children. Do we let them watch Bluey for 15 minutes or is this too much for our 2-year-old? Is an educational iPad app any different to Fruit Ninja for my child? Once our children reach their teens, we somtimes leave the idea of screen time behind. Interestingly a government article published on the Australian Institute of Family Studies states that the recommended amount of screen time is “no more than two hours of sedentary recreational screen time per day for children and young people aged 5–17 years (not including schoolwork).”
Photo by bruce mars on Unsplash
If two hours of recreational screen time is the recommended amount, what should our teens be doing for the remainder of their free time? Outside of completing homework or study, children benefit from being physically active, engaging their mind in cocurricular activities and most importantly sleep. Many children will have busy afternoons involving sport and other activities, followed by homework and dinner. This often means their recreational screen time clashes with their sleep time.
To promote healthy sleep, consider some of these adjustments to your child’s routine:
- No phones in the bedroom when it’s time for sleep
- Avoid looking at screens 1 hour before bed
- Plan a routine that allows time for recreational screen time to avoid missing it altogether
If you are looking for more tips for teenage screen time balance, consider raisingchildren.net.au
Ben Robson - eLearning and Innovation Coordinator