Improve Kids’ Mental Health by Limiting Screen Time to 3 Hours Weekly

Introduction

These days, kids spend most of their time in front of screens for entertainment, education, or social interaction. However, if this behavior becomes excessive, it can be harmful to them mentally and emotionally. Discover how limiting screen time for children is beneficial.

A recent Danish study, led by Dr. Jesper Schmidt-Persson of the University of Southern Denmark and published in JAMA Pediatrics, has found that limiting screen time to as little as three hours per week can have a significant "positive effect" on children and adolescents' behavior and mental health.

In this blog, we will analyze the study's findings and discuss why limiting screen time can help improve the quality of life of young children.

Main Study Findings

Study design and methodology

Dr. Schmidt-Persson conducted this study on 181 children and teenagers aged between 4 and 17 from 89 families. The participants were divided into two groups: one group had to restrict their screen use to no more than three hours per week for two weeks, excluding the time used for school purposes; the other group used screens freely. It is important to note that the limited screen time specifically targeted recreational screen activities.

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) assessed the children's mental health. The SDQ is a widely used standardized instrument for measuring a range of psychological and behavioral aspects of well-being: emotional symptoms, conduct problems, symptoms related to hyperactivity and attention difficulties, social interactions, and positive behaviors such as kindness and helpfulness.

Impact on Mental Health and Behavior

Results showed that children who limited their screen time experienced significant improvements in their behavior and mental health. Specifically, a decrease in emotional and behavioral problems was observed. Also, they found an improvement in communication skills, especially in how the children managed their emotions and communicated more punctually and considerately with their peers.

However, the findings stated that more research is needed to confirm whether these effects are sustainable in the long term. In addition, although the study did not examine why limiting screen time positively impacted children and adolescents, the researchers believe it may be because participants had more time for face-to-face social interaction.

Why Limit Screen Time for Kids?

Experts and health organizations' Recommendations

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry are some health organizations that recommend reducing screen time in childhood. These institutions suggest that children under two years avoid screen use and that older children limit their screen time to no more than two hours a day, focusing on educational and quality content.

Dr. Schmidt-Persson's study contributes to these recommendations, demonstrating that even a temporary reduction in screen time can significantly benefit children's mental health.

Reduce Screen Time & Build Healthy Habits

Strategies for parents and educators

Reducing screen time in a world surrounded by technology may be extremely difficult. However, here, you will find several strategies for parents and educators to help children decrease their reliance on screens. They are as follows:

• Establish precise schedules for device use: Creating a specific schedule for using electronic devices and fixing parental control applications may help reduce screen time.
• Encourage outdoor activities and technology-free play: Organizing outdoor outings such as hiking, bike rides, or board games is a fun and healthy alternative to screen time.
• Be a good role model by limiting screen use: Adults should consider reducing screen use and encourage children to interact face-to-face.

Can Adblockers Benefit Kids' Well-being?

The Impact of Online Ads on Children

Today, it's nearly impossible to avoid advertising. However, did you know that constant exposure to digital ads can overwhelm children and affect their concentration? Since children are still developing their cognitive skills, they become more vulnerable to advertising than adults. Let's discover some of the related risks:

Exposure to inappropriate content

One way advertising can impact children is by exposing them to inappropriate content, such as adult or violent, potentially normalizing their behaviors and creating a distorted view of what is appropriate.

Financial risks

Online advertising also involves financial risks as it aims to grab attention and prompt users to make impulse purchases, like those within gaming apps. Moreover, some advertisements could be fraudulent and redirect to insecure sites where users may fall victim to financial fraud and leak sensitive data.

Security and privacy risks

Many ads that children encounter can pose potential security and privacy threats. Some may contain malware or viruses that can harm the safety of devices and personal information.

How Adblockers Improve Children's Online Safety

Ad blockers can be an ideal tool for improving internet surfing for the whole family. By blocking all ads, we can reduce the risks associated with online advertising and how this can impact younger users. Let's take a look at just a few of its advantages as follows:

Decreasing overstimulation

Ads are very flashy and built to capture the viewer's attention, which can result in visual and cognitive overstimulation, especially in children and teenagers. Blocking these ads can reduce the amount of visual stimuli children are exposed to, promoting more focused browsing.

Promoting a gentler online experience

Ad blockers create a cleaner browsing experience by eliminating pop-up and banner ads. This helps children focus better on the educational or recreational content they are exposed to, sustain attention for extended periods, and may become less irritated with interruptions.

Reducing exposure to ad-related risks

Ad blockers prevent children from seeing advertisements that may not be appropriate for their age. This protects children from disturbing or inappropriate content, maintaining a safer, more child-friendly online environment.

Contribute to your children's mental health and well-being by providing a less disruptive online environment without interruptions using Stands AdBlocker, one of the top user-friendly alternatives for blocking ads.

Encourage Healthy Tech Habits for Kids and Teens

In particular, screen time limits and ad-blocking tools protect children from the possible side effects of excessive screen exposition. Dr. Schmidt-Person's study reminds us that despite technology's many benefits, it is crucial to use it in a balanced and conscious way, especially for the health and well-being of children.