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Balancing Screens and Child Well-Being in the Digital Age

Parents should help children develop healthy habits around screen time similar to sleep, activity, and food.
Balance and self-regulation are key when using screens and social media due to their addictive design.
Limiting screen time prevents crowding out essential activities like family time, sports, play, sleep, and eating.
Establish screen-free zones (e.g., dinner table, bedrooms, family car) and screen-free times (e.g., dinner, before bedtime).
Encourage children to find non-screen ways to manage boredom and release energy.
Select age-appropriate content and use parental controls to filter unsuitable media.
Discuss with children their perceptions of social media content, including advertising, influencers, and motivations.
Help children understand and cope with emotions triggered by what they see online (jealousy, anger).
Monitor teenagers' screen use, which averages about seven hours per day, and foster healthy digital habits.
Open conversations about media influence protect children’s mental health and decision-making.

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