
Even Internet use for entertainment purposes has its ups and downs depending on what apps and computer games your child chooses to engage with. Most kids today rely on Internet research to do their homework, for instance, and socializing with friends has become a virtual experience for many teens as well. Plus, kids are using their screen time for a variety of different purposes, some nobler than others. While American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a mere 1-2 hours a day of screen time for kids ages 2 and up, you may find that this guideline is an impossible one to implement considering how ubiquitous Smartphones, tablets, and other Internet-ready devices have become in our society.

There are other important steps to take as well, including striking a healthy life-tech balance yourself and using an internet protection tool to verify that your child is indeed adhering to the rules regarding screen time.ĭeciding how much screen time to allow your kids is a personal decision, but be sure to make an informed one based on your child’s age and how they use their time online. Simply telling your child that it’s time to disconnect isn’t always enough. Actually setting up healthy time limits and (perhaps even more challenging) sticking to these agreed-upon parameters is an entirely different thing altogether.Īs parenting columnist Samantha Kemp-Jackson says, in many kids’ minds, rules are made to be broken, and digital directions are no exception. With all of the information available on the dangers of too much screen time and the need to set time limits, there’s probably not a responsible parent left on the planet who isn’t aware that too much time in front of a digital device is harmful to kids.
