The Houston Center for Pediatric Therapy in partnership with your pediatrician wants every parent to know the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) with regard to the use of screen time and your child.
Screen time refers to time spent in front of a television, a phone app, or a tablet. This input is all two-dimensional, yet we live in a three-dimensional world. Young children are generally exposed to screens far more than what the APA recommends.
Currently, some children are tuning in to electronics in excess of 10-12 hours per day.
If at all possible, start early and follow the above recommendations. If your child is already using more screen time than recommended, don’t worry! There are several ways to get back on track.
A gradual reduction of screen time is especially helpful if a child is resistant to reducing screen time. For example, A child is exposed to screen time 5 hours a day. For the first week, cut that down to 4 hours. Use a timer! When the timer goes off, change to another activity together such as playing outside, working with hands using manipulatives, helping with cooking, etc.
Reward them for transitioning well. Then the next week, reduce screen time to 3 hours and so on. Parents can set timers and when a certain show or game is over, it’s time to shut it off and do something else.
It is not always easy and we all understand! While in a store, if your child becomes upset, handing them your phone on an app they like is easy and usually works. Begin to try to offer alternatives such as a fidget toy or some other toy or book. This is also true during car rides. It may not happen overnight but you are moving in the right direction! Good for you Mom and Dad!
One other word of caution is to be aware of what your child is watching during screen time. Some shows may include inappropriate content for a child such as violence and bad language. Does a child realize that in a cartoon, if a character gets run over by a truck, in real life they will not get back up again?
If your child begins to display aggressive behavior, be especially attuned to this. They may be watching something disturbing that could be causing this change. If you find this has happened, change the child’s ability to be able to engage with any violent game or material that is inappropriate.
Children with classical autism have a neurological impairment. These children are more susceptible to screen time. They tend to have low melatonin and sleep disturbances. Screen time suppresses melatonin and disrupts sleep. They are also prone to arousal regulation issues, manifesting in an exaggerated stress response, emotional dysregulation, or a tendency to be overstimulated; screen time increases all of these. Light at night from screens also suppresses REM sleep, a phase when the brain “cleans house.”
There is another type of autism referred to as Virtual Autism. Virtual Autism occurs when the neurological system has not properly developed due to a lack of motor, sensory and social stimulation. If you suspect that your child has Virtual Autism there is a simple way to find out and cure it!
Remove all screen time for 4 weeks straight replacing it with other activities including social interaction, sensory processing activities, playing outside, working with their hands with age-appropriate tasks, reading books, etc.
In the course of 4 weeks, if there is a marked improvement, your child is most likely not classically autistic. Stay on the course with decreased screen time. You can try adding appropriate amounts of time gradually but staying within the recommended times by the AAP. As long as progress continues, you are on the right track!
Some history about autism frequency in children:
