What are fun ideas for screen time alternatives for children? In the previous post we discussed children’s screen time guidelines. (See below for review of those guidelines). Learning to find fun alternatives to screen time can benefit your child’s motor skill development, language skills, social skills, and cognitive skills. Following is a list of ideas that can engage your growing child’s interests and learn new skills while replacing screen time.

Alternative Activities to Replace Screen Time:
Puzzles
Indoor table games
Building blocks, legos, or constructing activities
Craft projects
Coloring projects
Painting
Blowing Bubbles
Puppet shows
Detective searches
Scavenger hunts
Playing a musical instrument
Free reading time
Reading together as a family
Developing a hobby 
Helping in food preparation and cooking
Growing a vegetable or flower garden
​Caring for a pet
Nature hikes or projects
Family volunteer or community projects
Outside play activities
Indoor free play time
Organized team sports
Organized youth activities

Screen Time Recommendations:
Under 2 Years of Age
No screen time unless participating in video chatting with family
2-5 Years of Age 
Up to 1 hour of educational screen time daily with parents
5-17 Years of Age
Up to 2 hours of screen time daily outside of school work

Set boundaries on what is appropriate screen time expectations and viewing with children and teens.  
-Parental monitoring of screen time viewing content
-Screen time usage should be in a common area
-Screen time should be avoided for 1-2 hours prior to bedtime
-If screen time is needed for school work closer to bedtime, consider using blue light blocking glasses as blue light exposure prior to bed can disrupt melatonin production needed for restful sleep

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends families develop clear expectations of screen time usage with children.  Success depends on clearly communicating and abiding by those expectations and boundaries consistently.

Do you have questions on screen time for children? Contact Wellness 4 Kids for a FREE Pediatric Discovery Call.

What are the current recommended screen time guidelines for children?

There are currently limited studies on the effects of screen time on children’s brain health and development. However, recent studies have found toddlers exposed to screen time can manifest developmental delays. A longitudinal study, the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health is ongoing. Early preliminary results from this study report data that MRI scans found significant differences in children’s brains with higher screen time exposure. These children also evidenced lower scores on thinking and language tests. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends families develop clear expectations of screen time usage with children.  Success depends on clearly communicating and abiding by those expectations and boundaries consistently. Many pediatricians recommend the following screen time guidelines:
Under 2 Years of Age
No screen time unless participating in video chatting with family
2-5 Years of Age
Up to 1 hour of educational screen time daily with parents
5-17 Years of Age
Up to 2 hours of screen time daily outside of school work
​
Set boundaries on what is appropriate screen time expectations and viewing with children and teens.  
-Establish parental monitoring of content viewed.
-Screen time usage should be in a common area.
-Screen time should be avoided for 1-2 hours prior to bedtime.
-If screen time is needed for school work closer to bedtime, consider using blue light blocking glasses as blue light can interfere with melatonin production and sleep.

Stay tuned for alternative screen time activities in the next post.