Why Screen Time Is Not Necessarily a Bad Thing

It is something that both parents and educators are concerned about. But perhaps they shouldn’t be. Or at least modify their thinking on the topic.

Screen time is a huge issue in education. There is the thought that a child who spends multiple hours in front of a screen is costing themselves a social life and learning possibilities. 

In fact, according to the Mayo Clinic Staff, too much screen time has been linked to:

• Obesity
• Inadequate sleep schedules and insufficient sleep
• Behavior problems
• Delays in language and social skills development
• Violence
• Attention problems
• Less time learning

Furthermore, the American Academy of Pediatrics declares children ages 2 to 5 need to limit screen time to one hour a day of high-quality programming.

Yet, it is a different world today where technology is involved in everything. Screen time does not mean a child is slobbering over Cheetos and watching questionable YouTube videos for hours in the darkness of their room. Kids can be actively learning when in front of a screen. 

What Is Considered Screen Time?
Not long ago, screen time was just considered camping out in front of the television. And it has always been correlated with mental and physical harm. 

Nowadays, there are screens on everything. Screen time could be associated with a tv, a tablet, a phone, a desktop computer, laptops, or even video games. There is an active screen in most vehicles nowadays that the driver hopefully does not spend much time looking at, but passengers just might.

How Can Screen Time Be a Good Thing?
Of course, sitting sedentary for hours at a time is not recommendable. Besides being an educator, I also am a fitness fanatic. I earned my ACE personal training certificate for fun almost 20 years ago and have written for the largest health and fitness publications and companies over the years. So I am not advocating for a sloth-like existence. 

However, screen time is not what it once was. In the past, screen time used to mean watching too much television. But once again, with the advancement of technology, the times are different. 

As someone with a Master’s degree in Reading and Literacy with a Reading Specialist certificate, I have helped more than a thousand struggling readers over the years. And much of that has been accomplished through screen time. Whether having a child follow along on screen as a book is read to them online or through fun little apps and websites where sight words and letter recognition is practiced, not all screen time is the same. 

As of the most recent count, more than 520,000 educational apps are available. As for educational websites, there are more than a million online, the most popular perhaps being Khan Academy, as they are said to have more than 100 million visitors a month. 

I am a father of a one-year-old and a three-year-old, and somehow I have become as big a fan of the Wiggles and Sesame Street as my children have. It didn’t take my kids long to learn to count to ten, identify colors, and recite songs almost word for word through shows like this that they watch on television, apps, or YouTube. 

It’s the Quality of the Screen Time
The quality of screen time is what matters most when discussing children. (I would wager to bet that adults spend hours a day on social media platforms where they are not receiving any real benefits. Even the social aspect of social media is highly questionable.) Limiting screen time regarding the content being displayed should always be considered. 

Even though video games often get a bad rap, they involve critical thinking and hand-eye coordination and are entertaining. Playing a few games occasionally without going overboard should be acceptable for most children. 

Furthermore, as most schools now have students actively using a device in the classroom, it can be argued that they are experiencing hours of screen time in school every day.  

It Is Important to Communicate with Others in Person as Well
Everyone needs actual human contact now and then. Communicating online is fine, but talking to a living person and learning social skills are essential for children’s growth.

While there are plenty of educational websites and apps that children can learn from, sometimes a professional tutor can do wonders if your child needs help with a particular subject. At iAchieve, we have quality tutors for every subject and grade level.

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