Striking a balance between screen time, health

As the school year progresses, many parents are observing a common issue: how to keep kids balanced and healthy in a world full of screens. While tablets, phones and gaming devices can provide a quick way to unwind after school, leaning on them too much can take away important chances for development.

In “The Anxious Generation,” social psychologist Jonathan Haidt connects rising screen use among kids with increasing levels of anxiety, depression and attention issues in youth. He points out that since around 2012, when smartphones became commonplace for children, the developmental landscape has changed. Research shows that more than 40% of kids aged 8 to 12 spend over four hours a day on screens. Furthermore, studies reveal that 1 in 3 teens use screens until midnight or later. More children are isolating themselves behind screens instead of playing with others or exploring the real world. Haidt believes this shift significantly contributes to the growing mental health crisis among today’s youth.

Why Limiting Screen Time Matters

Haidt doesn’t push for a complete ban on screens, nor do most child development experts. The important part is to set limits on screen time and ensure it doesn’t replace real-life activities that are vital for a child’s growth. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that kids ages 2 to 5 should have no more than one hour of recreational screen time on weekdays and three hours on weekends.

When children have unlimited access to screens, they are less likely to engage in the play and interactions that support healthy brain and body growth. Too much screen time has been linked to shorter attention spans, trouble with emotional control, sleep problems and even delayed social skills.

That’s why it’s essential to establish a family routine that defines clear screen time limits while creating space for more enriching activities. When parents offer appealing options and promote a family culture that values real-world connections, they help their children flourish.

The Developmental Power of Boredom

One of the most surprising gifts we can offer our kids is the chance to be bored. While it may seem like a problem that needs fixing, boredom can actually play a crucial role in development.

Without constant entertainment from screens, children are encouraged to either reflect, invent or explore. This fosters creativity, problem-solving and intrinsic motivation.

Think back to your own childhood. Boredom often led to building forts, creating games or transforming a cardboard box into a rocket ship. Kids today also need those moments of unstructured time to spark their imagination. Please encourage your child to sit with boredom for a bit; it’s not something to fear but to value.

Building Frustration Tolerance and Focus

Screen entertainment is made to be instantly satisfying, often requiring little effort or sustained attention. However, life and learning require the ability to get through challenges and handle frustration.

Hands-on activities like puzzles, building models or learning to ride a bike help kids stretch their attention spans and feel the satisfaction of mastering something tough. These experiences teach them that struggling is OK and that perseverance pays off.

Similarly, focusing on one project or activity — rather than quickly flipping from video to video — boosts executive functioning skills like focus, planning and emotional control. These skills will benefit children in school and later in life.

The Importance of Social Play

A major developmental task of childhood is learning to get along with others.

While kids can connect online, face-to-face play is where they truly learn to navigate social situations, like sharing, taking turns, resolving conflicts and understanding emotional cues.

Set up regular playdates, encourage afterschool clubs or sports, or simply make time for kids to play outside with friends in the neighborhood. These opportunities build communication skills, empathy and problem-solving abilities that are crucial for adulthood.

Practical Alternatives to Screen Time

Here are some screen-free (and often low-cost) activities that encourage growth in physical, cognitive and emotional areas:

• Arts and Crafts: Drawing, painting or building with recycled materials improves creativity and fine motor skills.

• Outdoor Play: Riding bikes, playing ball or jumping rope helps develop coordination and endurance.

• Cooking Together: Measuring, mixing and tasting is a fun way to boost math skills and patience.

• Nature Walks or Scavenger Hunts: Exploring the outdoors lowers stress and builds curiosity.

• Building Projects: LEGOs, blocks or wood scraps encourage problem-solving and spatial reasoning.

• Gardening: Growing herbs or vegetables teaches responsibility and patience.

Finding the Right Balance

Screens are part of everyday life. A family movie night, video calls with relatives or a well-designed educational app can be positive experiences. But moderation is crucial. Set clear rules for screen time and stick to them, such as no screens during meals, turning screens off an hour before bedtime, and establishing a daily time limit that suits your family. Importantly, when kids see adults putting down their phones and engaging in real-life activities, they are more likely to do the same.

Helping Kids Grow

With some planning and a change in mindset, this school year can be a time of significant growth, discovery and joy. By replacing some screen time with active play, creative projects and social experiences, you’re helping your child develop into a confident, creative and emotionally healthy person. Remember, it is in the stillness of boredom and the excitement of play that children discover themselves and the world around them.

Michelle M. Yetman, PhD, is a clinical psychologist at LSU Health Shreveport Children’s Center, and Kelly Denton, M.S., M.A., is a doctoral intern at Health Services Psychology, LSU Health Shreveport.