American pediatricians have issued new recommendations for children's screen use, in an effort to adapt to an ever-changing landscape when it comes to digital media use.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has restated its concerns about children's use of digital media, giving parents more relaxed recommendations than in the past.
Specifically, the academy has rolled back its strict ban on screens for children ages 0 to 2, which had been in place since 1999. Now, the AAP recognizes that even very young children can benefit from some types of screen-based visual media, as long as they are supervised by parents and guardians. Observational studies show that babies under 18 months old can be emotionally strengthened by video chatting (such as Skype or FaceTime) with relatives.
From 18 to 24 months, the AAP says that infants can now use digital media with educational content, in the presence of a parent or caregiver. The AAP states that “due to immaturity of memory and attention skills, infants and toddlers cannot be educated by traditional digital media alone.”.
Basically, children at this age have trouble translating the content of a 2D screen into their 3D world. However, studies have found that children from the age of 15 months and up can learn from digital media if a parent is there with them, translating and repeating back to them what they see.
When the AAP was asked why the new recommendation singles out children ages 18 to 24 months rather than 15 to 24 months, the Academy responded that most young children are cognitively ready by age 18 months to learn from screens with parent assistance.
American pediatricians note that children between the ages of 2 and 5 can understand and learn from digital media. However, some evidence suggests that overreliance on media can disrupt children’s sleep, as well as their social, language, and cognitive development, if they sit in front of the TV for hours. The AAP recommends setting a limit of one hour per day in front of a screen and providing that it is “high-quality” content. Again, the AAP recommends that parents and guardians should watch the screen with their children to help them.
For children ages 6 and up, the AAP again recommends limits on digital media, urging parents to monitor and make sure screen time doesn't disrupt a good night's sleep and other healthy habits. Finally, the AAP suggests that parents should set the right example for healthy digital media habits.
