Kids and Cell Phones: How to Cut Back on Screen Time This Summer

After about a month of the school year ends this year in the summer, children’s free time is abundant. This unfortunately leads to long hours of digital media use such as mobile phone, tablet, computer or other consoles and television, usually during times when parents are working and there is no supervision.

Excessive screen exposure is a “chronic problem,” he noted. Nini PerfanidoAssociate Professor of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at EKPA School of Medicine / Head of the Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Unit at EKPA’s 1st Pediatric Clinic – at the Choremia Research Laboratory / “Hagia Sophia” Children’s Hospital. The implications are serious, especially for the mental health of children of all ages. “We know that screen time has a negative impact on sleep, over time it can be linked to obesity, it affects a child’s behavior and social skills,” Ms. Perfanidou tells K, emphasizing that guidelines for dealing with overeating and the use of electronic devices vary greatly from one age to another.

“Children under 18 months are not allowed to use a screen, while children under two should only use it for short video calls with grandparents or other relatives. At preschool age, screen time is allowed for one hour. At older ages, it is slightly longer. These are the general trends,” he explains.

“Parents have a critical role to play when it comes to managing screen time,” she says, “and they need to think about how they use media in front of their children: if that doesn’t change, nothing will change because parents are role models.” If a child sees a parent walking around with a cell phone in their hand or interrupting them, they will imitate that behavior.

While the “task” of limiting screen time may seem daunting to many parents, there are ways to change this habit and make room for more creative summer activities.

Individual interaction

According to Ms. Pervanido, during the day it is essential for parents to have individual interaction (“one-on-one”) and play with the child, without being interrupted by the mobile phone. “Based on the guidelines, as well as my own experience, preschoolers in particular need twenty minutes to play with their parents without breaks for calls or text messages.”

Reasonable use of mobile phone

It’s important for mom, dad, or other seniors in the home to use digital devices wisely. “I mean, yes, on the phone, but it’s in the bag when the whole family goes out to eat. We don’t keep checking texts or emails. For young children, whatever someone says to them, it doesn’t matter if they don’t see it. So parents have to be careful about how to handle screens properly.”

Parents, present

The truth is that children have nothing to gain by watching for long periods on a tablet or mobile phone. However, there are educational programmes for children over the age of two that do have something to offer. “However, viewing should never exceed one hour and should always be done in the presence of a parent. Use should not be individual.”

Media plan

For children in primary school, the needs change and so do the instructions. There, it is recommended to have a plan, a so-called “media plan” that parents plan in advance, discuss with the children and then stick to. “We discuss in advance what the plan is for digital media at home. For example: we only have a mobile phone, tablet or TV in the living room and not in the bedrooms or at mealtimes. We don’t use it before bed, only at specific times,” says Ms. Pervanidou.

boundaries for teens

For many teenagers, summer means the primary use of mobile phones and therefore social media such as Instagram and TikTok, which are most popular for children over 13. “Here things are more difficult, because there is a lot of independence. But certainly the media use plan must come first: what they can and cannot do depending on their age. Even if they want to chat with their friends, it should only be for a few hours. And despite the challenges of adolescence, there must be a limit: a discussion or agreement with the parents.”