GoKawiilParents who are stressed out are more likely to rely on screens and devices to keep their kids busy or calm — and less likely to enforce screen time limits. That’s the takeaway from a new screen time study from Florida International University’s Center for Children and Families. Researchers said the effects were more than a child acting out.
Screen time is one way to keep kids busy, especially when school’s out. The time spent on tablets and laptops can be a break for parents to complete tasks or take a break. But readjusting to early mornings, class time and homework can be a big shift for both parents and kids when school is back in session.
Jeff Temple, a professor and psychologist with UTHealth Houston, who was not affiliated with the FIU study, agrees. “For many families, screens become one of many tools that help everyone get through the day – and that’s mostly OK,” he told CNET. “The challenge comes when the structure of summer doesn’t transition back to the structure of the school year.”
Screen time isn’t a parenting failure, but experts have concerns and recommendations to help families strike a healthy balance for the back-to-school season.
Screen time is determined by parents’ stress
FIU’s study evaluated 822 caregivers of children ages 4 to 8 through online surveys on the child’s behaviors, parenting stress and screen time strategies. The findings show that parents opt for more screen time when a child’s behavior seems difficult and how much time is usually less enforced.
Shayl Griffith, an assistant professor in FIU’s Department of Counseling, Recreation and School Psychology and senior author of the study, said in a news release that parents shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help. The study’s recommendation is to focus on screen time and media that are “meaningful, engaging and appropriate for their child’s age.”
“When caregivers have the resources they need, they are better able to set consistent boundaries and engage with their children in ways that promote healthy development,” Griffith said.
The fine line between digital media discipline and disruption
Youth screen time is a growing concern. In January, the American Academy of Pediatrics published findings on correlations between digital media use and age-related development to help determine screen time rules for your child and monitor behavior.
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