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Why Do Children Have Screen Time

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According to the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, “8- to 18-year-olds consume an average of 7 hours and 11 minutes of screen media per day” (“Selected Research on Screen Time and Children”). Screen time is time spent watching TV, playing on the computer, or playing on a phone. Too much screen time can have negative effects on young children (“Selected Research on Screen Time and Children”). Since children are having seven hours of screen time a day when they are supposed to have less than two, this is an epidemic that needs to be put to an end. Children are receiving way more screen time than what they should be and it is negatively affecting their health. The reason children are prone to gain lots of weight is by how much TV they watch. According to The American Academy of …show more content…

Children can replace sit-time with play-time where they can ride bikes, walk around, play on play sets, or join a sports club. When children stay active it can help with weight control. Parents can limit screen time to a certain duration. Also, parents can make bedrooms free from television and internet use, making television a privilege. For example, children could finish their homework and their chores, then after that is finished reward them. Parents should suggest playing games, going outside, doing some sort of craft or hobby. There are endless numbers of possibilities of non-screen time activities to keep your child busy and active ("How TV Affects Your Child"). The Nemours Foundation states that to “limit how much children see commercials on television, parents can record programs and fast forward through the commercials, buy or rent movies that their children like to watch” ("How TV Affects Your Child" ). Children can still have some screen time; however, parents want to keep the television to a minimum and limit the commercials that can convince their children to want unnecessary

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