As a mother with four children and a busy work schedule, Anne Whitmore understands the allure of screen time on devices like iPads all too well. To manage this, she and her husband have established strict rules allowing their children only one hour of screen time per day after school. Once dinner is over, all tablets and phones are put away, with minimal screen use permitted for TV viewing.
Despite their efforts, Whitmore acknowledges the challenges of regulating screen time, especially while balancing work responsibilities and catering to her children’s entertainment needs at their home in Surrey, B.C. She expressed concerns about preparing her kids for the digital world while ensuring they develop essential skills like critical thinking and emotional intelligence.
Research has indicated various negative impacts of excessive screen time, including links to poor mental health, disrupted sleep patterns, inadequate physical activity, and now, a new Canadian study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests a correlation between increased screen time and lower standardized test scores in children.
The study, conducted by a team from Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children and St. Michael’s Hospital, tracked over 3,000 children in Ontario over a 15-year period, associating higher screen use before the age of eight with diminished academic performance. Dr. Catherine Birken, the lead author of the study and a pediatrician at Sick Kids, highlighted a significant relationship between screen time and lower test scores in reading and mathematics for children in Grades 3 and 6.
The study did not distinguish between different types of screen activities and was based on parental reports of their children’s screen usage habits. While the findings do not conclusively prove that screen time directly causes lower grades, experts like Dr. Sachin Maharaj from the University of Ottawa suggest a consistent negative impact of prolonged screen exposure on academic performance.
Dr. Maharaj emphasizes the importance of balancing screen time with other beneficial activities like face-to-face interactions and outdoor play, which are associated with enhanced academic outcomes. Recommendations from the Canadian Paediatric Society suggest prioritizing educational content and promoting joint screen use between parents and children to encourage healthier media consumption habits.
While acknowledging the challenges of enforcing screen time limits, Anne Whitmore emphasizes the effectiveness of their family’s one-hour rule in setting boundaries and minimizing conflicts. She believes that providing clear guidelines for her children is crucial for their success and overall well-being.
