“Shocking Truth: Why Your TV Might Be the Unexpected Hero in Your Child’s Screen Time Battle”

Child development specialists are now suggesting to parents that if they can’t completely eliminate screen time for their children, they should at least transition them from portable devices to television viewing.

“Compared to live TV, tablets offer an endless array of viewing options and games,” therapist Georgia Sturmer explained to HuffPost UK. “Providing children with unlimited entertainment choices can pose potential risks.”

“The constant availability of content on tablets can quickly become an addictive time-sink. This may hinder children’s ability to engage with their surroundings and willingly disconnect from technology,” she added.

Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt, spouse of actor Chris Pratt, implements this approach with her own children.

“Handheld devices give kids an illusory sense of control,” she stated. “Watching content on a TV is not only better for their vision, posture, and cognitive development, but it also allows for separation and family bonding.”

Experts note that besides being less addictive due to the limited content available on TV at any given time, parents can more easily monitor what their children are watching.

“We have significantly less control over portable devices and their content compared to television,” noted Dr. Charlotte Armitage, a psychologist and psychotherapist. “When you factor in the mobility of these devices versus a stationary TV, it creates a significant challenge.”

“Furthermore, the format of content on devices often differs, featuring short-form rather than long-form content. Even child-oriented apps can be problematic,” she continued. “These apps and brief videos are designed to maximize engagement and keep users glued to the screen by rapidly delivering content they believe the user wants.”

Features like “auto-play, ‘related’ video suggestions, and in-game rewards” can make it more challenging for children to stop using a tablet compared to watching TV, according to Jacqueline Nesi, an assistant professor at Brown University, who shared her insights.

Experts maintain that while no screen time is inherently beneficial, some forms are less detrimental than others. They emphasize that parents should promote healthy screen habits, which are most effectively taught through the example set by adults in their children’s lives.

Familyguide previously reported on screen time:

As children’s growing attachment to mobile devices continues to impact their physical and mental well-being, parents are seeking ways to curb their offspring’s screen time.

The American Psychological Association published research on the effects of cell phone and social media usage on young individuals, highlighting issues such as “heightened sensitivity to social feedback,” impaired relationship-building skills, “underdeveloped impulse control,” and disruption of healthy sleep patterns.

“As of early 2024, few substantial changes to social media platforms had been implemented by the industry, and no federal policies had been adopted,” the APA observed. “There remains a pressing need for social media companies to make fundamental alterations to their platforms.”

This information is particularly concerning in light of a University of California-San Francisco study that “revealed that 12- to 13-year-old children in the United States doubled their non-academic screen time to 7.7 hours daily in May 2020, up from 3.8 hours per day before the pandemic.”