Screen Time Effects on Children: What Every Parent Needs to Know
Screen Time Effects on Children: What Every Parent Needs to Know
You’re probably here because your child melts down when it’s time for the screen to be put away. Or maybe you want to help set your child up for success, proactively.
In today’s digital age, children are spending more time than ever on screens—whether it’s TVs, tablets, smartphones, or computers. While technology offers educational opportunities and entertainment, many parents are concerned about how screen time affects children’s physical, emotional, and social development.
Understanding the screen time effects on kids is essential for families who want to promote healthy habits and support their child’s development. This post explores both the positive and negative impacts of screen time, what the latest research says including autism screen time, and how parents can strike a balance between technology and real-life experiences.
What You'll Learn About Screen Time & Children’s Mental Health:
Long and short term screen time effects on children
Screen time guidelines for kids at various stages of development
An understanding of Autism and screen time based on recent studies
How to foster healthy screen time for kids
Scroll down if you prefer to explore with me on YouTube!
Screen Time Guidelines for Kids
Screens are not inherently harmful; the issue lies in the amount of screen time and how we use them in our lives. For instance, interactive educational programs can boost learning, but passive scrolling or endless video-watching may contribute to attention difficulties and reduced social interaction.
Research shows that the average child from preschool age up spends more than 4–7 hours a day on screens! That’s more than enough to influence sleep, mood, physical activity, and even brain development negatively.
Many children become disregulated due to the fast paced (and increasingly faster frames per second), which creates other issues to include focus. Conversely, a recent study (link below) has show that screens help many Autistic children to regulate and screens don't result in the same anxiety levels as in neurotypical children. It has been noted this is because they are able to control much of the environment. Based on my Craniosacral background and understanding of the brain, I suspect this is also linked to the differences in the subcorticol system and occipital lobe (vision) in Autistic individuals.
Personally (as an ADHD family), screens often lead to overstimulation and dysregulation. We have noticed that a smaller screen mitigates this, but there's more behind this, what we engage with, and how we frame it. But let’s take a closer look:
The Positive Effects of Screen Time for Children
Although often seen negatively, not all screen time is bad. Here are some positive outcomes when managed wisely:
Educational learning – Quality apps and shows can improve literacy, problem-solving, and creativity
Connection with peers & family – Video calls help children bond with distant relatives and friends
Access to resources – Children can learn new skills, from language to coding, and yoga to art classes!
Entertainment & relaxation – Age-appropriate movies or games can provide fun and the ability to regulate
Parents get a break - This is the truth (often)! With so many demands on our plate, sometimes we need a distraction so we can have a moment to rest or collect ourselves, so we can respond to our children’s needs in a healthy manner.
The key is intentional screen time, where content is chosen carefully, rather than mindless consumption. And noticing or helping your child to be aware of their responses to these stimuli.
The Negative Effects of Screen Time for Children
Excessive or unstructured screen time, however, comes with risks:
Physical Health Concerns - Too much screen use leads to sedentary lifestyles, contributing to poor posture and coordination, eye strain, obesity, and even arthritis in the neck was observed many years ago in children as young as 6!
Sleep Disruptions - Blue light exposure delays melatonin production, making it harder for children to fall asleep or get restful sleep. Exposure to natural sun and moon light helps our circadian rhythm, so we can get the sleep we need to support our physical, mental, and emotional health and development.
Mental Health Impacts - There has been noted increased risk of anxiety, depression, and irritability. This can be due to comparison on social media leading to lower self-esteem, and dysregulation from being overstimulated and disconnected from the body. On the contrary, it has recently been shown that those with Autism benefit from some screen time to regulate.
Attention and Learning Challenges- Fast-paced apps and videos shorten attention spans. In fact the FPS (frames per second) continues to increase - look at many of the shows targeted at children! No wonder they are overstimulated and struggle with attention for slower paced stories that actually have an arc. Over-reliance on devices has also been linked to decreased problem-solving, critical thinking, and imaginative skills.
Social & Family Life - Too much screen time can reduce face-to-face interactions and bonding, leading to poor social and communication skills if most of their interactions happen online
Parenting Tips for Screen Time
Ultimately, it’s about finding a balance - something that proves challenging in our very unbalanced and disconnected world. Let’s explore some of the signs that your child may be feeling the impact of screen time, and some healthy ways to engage with screens!
Screen Time Guidelines for Kids
Guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend:
Under 2 years old – Avoid screen time
Ages 2–5 years – Limited to 1 hour per day
Ages 6+ years – Maximum 2 hours per day
Signs of Unhealthy Screen Time in Kids
While screens can be beneficial, parents should look out for red flags that suggest kids need a reset:
Irritability or meltdowns when asked to turn off devices (aka dysregulation)
Trouble focusing on non-digital tasks like reading or homework
Sleep disturbances, especially when screens are used before bed
Reduced interest in offline hobbies and physical activity
Social withdrawal, preferring screens over real-world play
If you notice these signs, it may be time to evaluate your family’s digital habits.
7 Ways to Foster Healthy Screen Time for Kids
Parents can create a balanced environment by collaboratively setting boundaries and encouraging other meaningful activities. It all comes down to intention. Here are some strategies for you:
What’s your intention?: Being mindful as to why the screen is being used is hugely important in helping us discern if it will add to or detract from our wellbeing.
Create collaborative boundaries: Designate tech-free zones (bedrooms, dinner table) and agree when and for how long screens will be used.
Balance with other activities: Each child’s need for rest and stimulation is different. Help your child tune into their needs, and encourage activities such as; art, time outdoors, sports, reading, learning, music and other creative play they enjoy to develop the whole child!
Keep it Neutral: Being mindful around our language of screens is important - rather than using it as reward or punishment - something to be controlled. This is particularly true if you are raising a PDAer.
Engage in Co-Viewing: Watch shows or play games together - use these moments to discuss what’s going on, ask questions to promote critical thinking, problem-solving, and learning.
Help Your Child Tune In: What do they notice in their body while they are engaging on screens or with certain activities? How do they know when they have had too much - get fidgety, stop breathing deeply etc? What feels nourishing? Helping our children develop Somatic awareness - neuroceptive and interoceptive awareness is a life-skill!
Be a Role Model: They are watching! One of the most important things we can do is show how we create balance in our own screen use.
Heathy screen time for kids is about supporting learning, critical thinking, creativity, and encouraging healthy social connections. Maintaining a balance, body awareness, and being conscious of our intention behind the use of screens is key.
By focusing on quality and balance, parents can transform screen use into an ally rather than a source of stress.
Final Thoughts on Screen Time Advice for Parents
Long-term excessive screen exposure may alter brain development, especially in young children. Studies show that children with high screen use tend to have weaker connections in the brain areas related to language and critical thinking.
On the other hand, children who use technology for educational and creative purposes—balanced with physical activity and social interaction—can benefit greatly.
Every family is different, but one of the most effective ways to support children’s digital well-being is to combine screen time guidelines with real-life connection, creativity, and balance.
The ultimate goal is not to eliminate screen time but to teach healthy habits to help our children stay healthy and safe.
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🌺 Katie
Resources:
Autism Screen Time: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1750946723001228?fbclid’
