According to many experts, young childrenshouldn’t have much screen time.
But tablets and smartphones are becoming so ubiquitous that those recommendations are starting to look unrealistic.
Screen time isn’t necessarily harmful for kids, though.
Here’s what you should probably know.
Television is passive: stuff happens, and you get to watch.
So, while tablets aren’t as bad as television, kids still need to develop these real-world skills.
Kids who spent time at a no-screens-allowed camp showed better social skills after just five days.
The take-home: Social skills require constant maintenance.
The bad news is that screen time often comes at the expense of that vital face-to-face time.
And in some cases, apps can help social development.
Consider What Your Kid Is Learning
Phones and tablets are tools, not just toys.
They can also learn to research their own questions.
Siri and Google Now are great helpers for kids who can’t yet jot down.
I asked Smith about her take on phones and tablets as tools and not just toys.
It is just another form of media that can and should be used in whichever way an individual chooses.
But don’t forget that when children get to school, computers will often be the desktop jot down.
(Screens can interfere with sleep in adults, too.)
The internet, phones, and tablets are part of the world kids are growing up in.
It’s all about the big picture.
Time-based limits on screens are another popular solution, but they’re imperfect.
I know this may sound like crazy talk.
I believe that’s because they know they can pick the tablet up again whenever they want.
Images byBrian Hagen,Jerine Lay,Glenn Buckholtz,Austin Marshall.
