Building Healthy Screen Habits from an Early Age
An image children playing outdoors, riding a bike and engaging in a creative activity like painting. This represents balanced, offline activities. Screens have become an integral part of our daily lives, including those of our children. While technology offers numerous benefits, it's crucial to establish healthy screen habits from an early age to ensure children's overall well-being and development. This article explores the importance of fostering positive digital behaviors, provides age-appropriate guidelines, and offers practical strategies for parents to implement. The Digital Landscape for Children The prevalence of screens in children's lives has increased dramatically over the past decade. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children between the ages of 8 and 18 spend an average of 7 hours per day using screen media 1 . This significant exposure to digital content can have both positive and negative impacts on children's development, making ...