We live in a digital age, and all love our screens, but too much screen time for your growing child can be detrimental to their eye health and vision.
“Everyone loves their iPads, their computers, their phones,” says Dr. Sepideh Rousta of University Children’s Eye Center, “but we would be remiss if we didn’t remind parents that too much of this can be harmful, particularly at very young ages.”
So with that being said . . . how much screen time is too much?
“Children three years old and younger should essentially have zero screen time,” Dr. Rousta continues. “I like to caution parents to absolutely give no cell phones to little kids; no use of cell phones at all, and no iPad. Television at a distance of at least six feet, up to an hour a day, preferably broken up in 30-minute increments, would be acceptable. But a cell phone is by far the worst influence for the eyes of a young child, and can really promote a lot of nearsightedness.”
Of course, these recommendations are easier to articulate than they are to implement.
“We're all busy and many of us are on our screens,” says Dr. Rousta. “Because of this, it’s really difficult to tell your children to not be on their screens.”
Instead, she recommends that parents encourage alternative activities, such as facilitating outdoor play time when the weather permits, and encouraging the use of non-digital games, such as legos, toys with crafts, etc.
For more recommendations, and for treatment options when issues of nearsightedness arise, visit our website.
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