As a mother with a busy work schedule and four children, Anne Whitmore is no stranger to the allure of screens like iPads. To manage screen time, Whitmore and her spouse enforce strict rules, allowing their kids only one hour per day on electronic devices after school. Post-dinner, all tablets and phones are put away, with limited screen exposure permitted for TV viewing. Despite these regulations, Whitmore admits the challenge of navigating screen boundaries, especially while working from their home in Surrey, B.C., and catering to her children’s entertainment needs.
Concerns surrounding excessive screen time include its association with adverse effects on mental health, sleep quality, and physical activity, as highlighted in various studies. A recent Canadian study conducted by a team from Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children and St. Michael’s Hospital, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, revealed a correlation between increased screen time before the age of eight and lower performance on standardized tests among children.
Tracking over 3,000 children in Ontario for 15 years, the study linked extended screen exposure to diminished academic outcomes. Dr. Catherine Birken, a pediatrician and senior scientist at Sick Kids, emphasized the significant negative impact of screen time on children’s test scores, noting a 10% decrease in meeting academic standards with each additional hour of screen use.
The study did not differentiate between various screen activities, emphasizing that it relied on parental reports of children’s screen time, which may not definitively prove a direct causation between screens and lower grades. Dr. Sachin Maharaj, an education expert at the University of Ottawa, supported the findings, citing a growing body of evidence linking increased screen time to academic underperformance due to reduced attention spans and limited engagement in beneficial activities like face-to-face interactions and outdoor physical play.
While acknowledging the challenges parents face in regulating screen time, Whitmore, also a school council president, shared anecdotes of children’s struggles due to excessive screen use. The study’s outcome aligns with concerns raised by educators about students’ academic challenges stemming from prolonged screen exposure. Whitmore emphasized the importance of setting boundaries despite the resistance from children and the ongoing battle to limit screen usage.
Although the study does not aim to blame parents, it underscores the need for collaborative efforts among parents, educators, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to promote healthy screen habits. Dr. Birken recommended prioritizing educational content and encouraging joint screen usage between parents and children to foster responsible media consumption. Whitmore emphasized the effectiveness of their family’s one-hour screen rule in minimizing conflicts and setting clear expectations for her children’s screen time.