Feature
Taking a Long, Hard Look at Screen Time The impact of electronic media on children by Aisling O’Brien
Will Taylor (age 4) plays on the iPad at home
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beijingkids
2013 September
photos: mitchell pe masilun
ow that school is back in session, many families will be struggling to balance screen time at home. Lots of kids would happily while away the hours in a zombie-like trance, bathed in the twilight glow of a flickering screen, but the evidence overwhelmingly suggests that moderation, supervision, quality, and cooperative engagement are key when it comes to balancing screen time. Screen time is defined as the time spent using screens such as computers, televisions, video games, and digital handheld devices. Every year, the figures for “total hours watched” continue to rise, and there’s a yawning chasm between expert recommendations and actual viewing patterns. Psychologist Dr. Aric Sigman recently published an influential review on the effects of screen time on children around the world. He found that, by the time the average child turns 18, they will have watched the equivalent of three years of continuous, 24/7 screen media. To make sense of it all, we examine official recommendations, weigh the pros and cons of screen time, and speak to two Beijing families about their philosophies of tech-in-action. Listed opposite are just a few of the pros and cons of screen time, which families may want to consider before setting out their own rules.