Life is different than it used to be. There was a time when no one spent time in front of a screen. Now it is tough to find time when people aren’t looking at a screen of some sort. So what difference does it make? It makes a huge difference.

“Screen time” is a term used which includes watching TV, working on a computer or playing video games. Screen time usually is being inactive and using very little energy. Most children spend about three hours a day watching TV but when you add together all the different types of screen time, it can total 5-7 hours a day.

Too much screen time can 1) make it hard for your child to sleep at night, 2) raise your child’s risk of attention problems, anxiety and depression, and 3) raise your child’s risk of gaining too much weight. Screen time increases your child’s risk of gaining weight because of the lack of activity and because many children eat more when they watch TV.

Screen time guidelines

Children under age 2 should have no screen time. Yes, they enjoy watching the screen, too. They have funny characters which move and keep things interesting. Actually, we have other ways to keep things interesting for little ones like books, toys, parents and siblings. No screen time for children under age 2 is the latest recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Physicians say that with new kinds of technology we really don’t know about the effect it has on children.

But, what they do know is that a child’s brain develops rapidly during the first years and physicians believe that children learn best by interacting with people and not screens.

Children over the age of 2 should be limited to 1-2 hours a day of screen time. Even with this time, parents should know what is being watched. While it may be for children, don’t expect major changes in your child as a result of watching a show.

So where does this put you with a 13 year old? Pediatricians would say continue to limit the screen time. Others would argue that when more and more computer time is spent on school work, it would be difficult to limit this time. But limiting time for watching TV, Facebook and computer games still should be a part of what is expected at this age.

But this goes even further. Think about the message a couple sends one another when they go out to dinner and the telephone is more important than talking together. The message they are sending to each other is an important one. You wouldn’t talk on the phone when you are out to dinner with him; you shouldn’t be on the phone or even just looking at the phone when you are out with someone who is important to you.

Screen time rules impact all of us.

Decreasing screen time

When children are used to watching a lot of TV, it can be difficult cutting down to two hours a day. But you can help by talking with your child about the impact of too much sitting time on their overall health. Talk to them about what they eat, how much they should sleep and how much they should watch to be healthier.

To decrease screen time try some of these ideas:

• Be sure to turn off the TV during meals or during homework time.

• Never leave a TV or computer in your child’s room.

• Don’t let your child eat food while watching TV or using the computer.

• Do not leave the TV on for background noise.

• Decide which programs to watch ahead of time. Turn off the TV when those programs are over.

• Suggest other activities, such as family board games, puzzles or going for a walk.

• Let TV or computer time come after he has done what is expected of him.

• Keep a record of how much time is spent in front of a screen. Try to spend the same amount of time being active.

• Be a good role model as a parent. Don’t overdo your own TV watching.

• Reward him for the changes he makes in his screen time.

• Challenge your family to go one week without watching TV or doing other screen-time activities. Find things to do with your time that get you moving and burning energy.

A little bit of screen time is fine but when you find yourself using more and more of your child’s time being entertained by a screen, you have gone too far.

Put your efforts into making your family a healthy family. Talking together and laughing together are far more important than watching a screen.

Cynthia Martin is the founder of the First Teacher program and director of Parenting Matters Foundation, which publishes newsletters for parents, caregivers and grandparents. Reach Martin at pmf@olypen.com or at 681-2250.