The topic of screens and children raises many questions today regarding their effects on brain development. Overexposure to digital screens can have significant impacts on the brains of children and teenagers.
The COP9 team is here to support families in taking effective measures to limit screen time for young children, while considering the potential effects on their development and mental health. Keep reading to learn more !
For very young children, those under the age of 2, screen use should be minimized and, if possible, avoided entirely. This includes time spent watching television, using tablets, and other portable devices.
It is generally advised not to expose infants and toddlers to screens, as this can interfere with their cognitive and social development.
Screen-free time should be prioritized, and shared activities such as play or reading should be encouraged, as they promote healthy early development.
For children aged 2 to 5, it is recommended to limit screen time to one hour per day.
Screen use should be of good quality and supervised by parents, who are encouraged to watch together with their children in order to build interaction around the activity.
The key objective is to help children understand what they are watching and to analyze the influence of screens on their reasoning abilities and emotional development.
In short, between ages 2 and 5, recommendations regarding screens and children emphasize both duration and content of quality.
Among teenagers, the relationship between screens and children is often associated with impacts on sleep and emotional balance.
For teenagers, it is recommended to encourage moderate screen use, particularly regarding social media.
On average, adolescents spend more than 4 hours per day in front of screens, which can have harmful effects on both physical and mental health.
Excessive use of computers or mobile devices can also disrupt sleep by interfering with circadian rhythms, especially when screens are used before bedtime.
Pediatricians also emphasize the importance of parental control in managing children’s screen time.
Managing screens and children largely depends on parental guidance and the example set by parents.
Parents can already begin teatching healthy habits by limiting their own screen time and encouraging their children to engage in enriching activities such as reading, sports, or other forms of social interaction.
This helps reduce the risks of sedentary behavior, obesity, and learning delays.
From Dr. Stéphanie Zwillinger’s perspective, screen time represents a major challenge in visual prevention.
Children today spend a great deal of time focusing on near vision, often on tablets or smartphones, without sufficient breaks.
This overexposure promotes :
eye strain ;
visual fatigue ;
headaches ;
dry eye syndrome, even in children and teenagers.
Among teenagers, prolonged screen exposure is also associated with :
sleep disorders ;
negative effects on concentration and learning.
Official recommendations highlight the importance of setting clear rules, limiting screen exposure over time, and reducing recreational screen use, particularly television viewing and prolonged video game sessions.
Adapting screen use according to age, supporting families, and raising awareness from an early age help protect visual health and overall development in a digital environment that is now omnipresent.
For both young children and teenagers, it is crucial to establish clear limits regarding screen use.
This includes setting specific time slots during which children are allowed to use digital devices.
For example, avoiding excessive screen use during meals or just before bedtime. It may also be helpful to establish precise schedules for tablet or smartphone use and to offer appealing alternatives that support healthy mental and physical development.
We encourage parents to adopt a proactive approach in evaluating screen use and its impact on their children.
Effective communication and the establishment of family rules regarding screen time are essential.
Children are spending increasingly more time in front of screens, whether on tablets, smartphones, television, or video games.
This exposure now affects all age groups, sometimes from a very young age, with children spending long periods with their eyes fixed on screens.
Health authorities nevertheless emphasize the importance of avoiding screens for very young children, particularly before age 3, a critical period for development.
Excessive screen time affects children on several levels :
behavioral issues ;
attention difficulties ;
impaired social interactions ;
impact on academic performance.
Among teenagers, intensive screen use may promote addictive behaviors, particularly when screen time is not limited. The link between screens and children is also frequently associated with sleep disturbances and emotional imbalance.
Recommendations underline the need to reduce screen time, supervise usage, and promote age-appropriate screen habits.
We therefore recommend staying informed about screen use guidelines in order to protect the development of children and teenagers, while also teaching them how to manage their exposure time and integrate new technologies in a balanced way into their lives.
Maintaining a balance between screen time and time devoted to physical, social, and educational activities helps prepare young people to live in an increasingly digital world without compromising their overall health !
