Tips to Navigate Tech with Young Children
By Aisha Adedayo
In our tech-saturated world, technology is a now a part of our children's learning environment. For parents of children aged 2-8, understanding how to use technology to benefit, rather than disrupt, children’s development is crucial.
Strike the Right Balance
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises limiting screen time to one hour per day for 2-5-year-olds, focusing on high-quality content (AAP, 2016). For older kids, balance is key - ensuring tech doesn't replace sleep, physical activity, and other healthy habits.
Quality Matters
It's not just about how much time they spend on screens, but what they're viewing. Educational resources offer valuable learning experiences. These tools can enhance learning, as found in studies like Guernsey and Levine's (2015), which highlight the benefits of interactive and educational content for developing critical thinking and creativity.
Interactive and Engaging
Interacting with children during screen time, by discussing what you are watching, asking questions, and connecting concepts to their daily lives, is recommended (Radesky et al., 2015). “Co-viewing” screen time in this way is beneficial for healthy cognitive and language development.
Healthy Tech Habits for Families
Tech-Free Zones: Create spaces in your home where screens are off-limits to encourage family time.
Lead by Example: Your screen habits influence your children. Prioritize real interactions over digital ones.
Bedtime Rules: Avoid screens before bedtime to ensure they don't disrupt sleep, a suggestion backed by research from Hale and Guan (2015) and many others.
Balance with Other Activities: Mix screen time with outdoor play, reading, and creative activities.
Setting limits, choosing enriching content, and interacting with children during screen time are all research-backed ways to help technology benefit children’s growth and learning.
References
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2016). Media and Young Minds. Pediatrics, 138(5).
Guernsey, L., & Levine, M. H. (2015). Tap, Click, Read: Growing Readers in a World of Screens. Jossey-Bass.
Radesky, J. S., Schumacher, J., & Zuckerman, B. (2015). Mobile and Interactive Media Use by Young Children: The Good, the Bad, and the Unknown. Pediatrics, 135(1).
Hale, L., & Guan, S. (2015). Screen time and sleep among school-aged children and adolescents: A systematic literature review. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 21, 50-58
