Children Should Increase On-Screen Time

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children under the age of two years have no screen time, with the exception of video chatting. Children younger than two benefit from a hands-on learning approach, therefore, introducing them to a digital device takes away time they need to be socially interactive to develop their cognitive, language, motor, and social-emotional skills. By the age of two, and through the preschool aged years it is recommended that children have no more than 1 ½ hours of screen time per week, and that screen time should be monitored to ensure it is educational as well as age appropriate. There are even television channels and computer applications that are dedicated to creating educational, engaging, and enjoyable content for such young viewers, however, it should be noted that

Technology has been part of our daily live more frequently than before. Screen time has been more popularly used on kids and adolescents. On a daily bases many kids seem to spend more time inside on their tablets, instead of having to spend time with other kids. This is a problem that is becoming more popular over the years,on whether kids need to spend that much time on technology or not. Parents either seem to have strict technology usage, or they either don’t. There has always been a huge controversy with experts, who either think that screen time is beneficial or could cause problems later on in life. There are many views towards this topic, from hurting kids brains, to helping them during school, and socially.

According to some research this is another reason to reduce screen time. Joan Ganz Cooney Center, a non-profit research and production institute, suggested that little ones spend less than half the time in front of screens watching educational material between the ages of 2 and 10. We can only assume that statistic will deplete in time. Family income cannot be helped but is also a determining factor. According to the center lower income families had their children doing better with watching educational screen activities then higher income families. I take that as less means leads to more interaction and attention to the better educational route and more leading to lack

Research shows that the majority of screen time has a negative effect on children of all ages. Children ranging from ages two to 11, on average, spend anywhere from 25 to 35 hours a week in front of the television, or other forms of screen time.  At such young

eople would argue against limiting screen time for younger children. However some arguments can be made for letting children watch television when they are very young. A poor mouse lost its youth for the effects of overstimulation to be proven, and such a valiant sacrifice should not go in vain. Along with the sacrifice of the mice that served under Dr. Christakis, our future citizens are having their perceptions of reality augmented even before they go to preschool or kindergarten. Combined with the attention deficit, these preconceived notions of different places can lead a school to have some serious issues. The core issue with this is that it is very difficult to moderate a child 's viewing of the television, playing of video games, or accessing of the Internet, especially because younger people have more fluid of electronic devices. The benefits of caring for a child during its infancy, instead of sticking it in front of a screen, outweigh whatever free time would be obtained by letting the child experience over stimulation.

As someone who is expecting in October, 2017 I believe that screen time limits are infact very vital for children. I believe that with all of the smart phones, xbox systems, that have many violent video games, are not appropriate for children at all. Between the tablets, personal computers, and access to social media at such young ages is very dangerous. This is not being taken as seriously as it should be and it's destroying the youth.

Although both arguements seem reasonable I feel there should be a screen time limit for children. Being in front of a screen takes children away from human interaction. Children should be playing and using their imagination whether its inside or outside. In personal experiences, screen play takes a mental and physical toll on children. In my personal opinion there is no reason to have children in front of a screen for longer than an hour or two a day.

My stance on the screen debate is children should have the least amount of non-educational screen time as possible. I say non-educational because there are games, shows, and computer programs that do benefit children and teach them new information. Before the age of 2 there should really be no screen time what so ever because this is the time if the most brain development. I wouldn’t want the prime time of my child’s development to be spent watching TV or playing video games. Piaget’s stages of cognitive development are a good example of why children shouldn't be having screen time before 2.

Research has revealed that majority of Australian children are getting more than the recommended amount of screen time. A decade long study tracked 4000 pre-schoolers throughout their growth the teenagers. Genevieve Alison published the article ‘Most Australian children spend too much time glued to screens, research reveals’ in the Herald Sun on the 20th September 2016. Alison argues that Australian children spend too much time glued to screens. She expresses a logical and rational tone which swings to a more sophisticated and calm tone later in the article. These tones position the reader to keep reading as it is very informative and has evidence to back her claims. Using persuasive techniques, Alison explains and suggests that screen time

This gives meaning to what the toddler is viewing. This is an idea frequently discussed in my education classes; making learning meaningful by connecting it to the student’s real-life experiences.

In Article One, 'Screen Time Limits Are Vital For Childeren', A fact that really caught my attention was the first sentence of paragraph two. The author says, "Children in the United States have an average of 7.5 hours of screen time per day.'' I was blown away with this statement, yet at the same time, not suprised. This one sentence really got me thinking simply because 7.5 hours is basically the same amount of hours you work at a full time job. There is no way that every minute of those 7.5 hours,

There have been a multitude of studies in recent years on the subject of screen time and the effects it can have on children of all ages. Previously, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended that children from 0-2 years of age not be exposed to any screen time at all (American Academy of Pediatrics, [AAP], 2016). This included television, video games, smart phones, tablets, movies and computers. The AAP has recently changed its recommendation, though, stating that “Some media can have educational value for children starting at around 18 months of age, but it 's critically important that this be high-quality programming, such as the content offered by Sesame Workshop and PBS.” (AAP, 2016). The recommendation for children ages 2-5 is still the same, at one hour of high quality programming a day, and for children age 6 and older, to use consistent limits on the

The argument if children should be aloud on the screen time for a long amount of time has been going on for a very long time. I believe that the APP should extend their limitation on screen time because it has so many benefits for children of all ages.

Take a moment to imagine a world without the technological advances from the last ten to fifteen years. Imagine a world without wifi, without smartphones, without chromebooks, and without concerns about screen time. Now, envision a world with all the developments in the last fifteen years. Think about how technology has allowed for stronger social interactions, personalized physical fitness programs, and more engaging lessons at school. What if your parents limited your screen time? By limiting screen time, you might be less social, overweight, and not achieving your potential. For this reason, teens and tweens should be allowed to have unlimited screen time, because it provides education, encourages fitness, and strengthens social interactions.

I do believe that children under the age of two shouldn't have screen time; this is the time for them to learn words, communicate, motor skills, and let their imagination grow. But, like most families, I fall victim of giving in because the screen helps baby-sit the children. I am not proud of this decision, but when I do give in, I try to make sure that I chose something child appropriate and educational.