Commentary: A ‘no screens’ parenting style can’t exist in a post-COVID world
April 30, 2020
A ‘no screens’ parenting style can’t exist in a post-COVID world
Parents with “no screens” (e.g. no computers, tablets or TVs) are in a particularly vulnerable boat since they know firsthand that screen time is a big factor in their children’s behavior. Yet the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends limiting children’s screen time to no more than 2 hours per day, citing research demonstrating that children exposed to excessive amounts of screen time are more likely to develop attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, depression, ADHD and other conditions.
Research also indicates that parents who limit screen time tend to use less effective strategies, which can translate into higher rates of child obesity, high blood pressure and overweight. The AAP recommends that parents follow a “no screens” (or “sitters on screens”) parenting style in light of the current medical and public health crisis. This is one of several strategies designed to limit children’s exposure to media, such as a limit on computer time and screen time, limiting cell phone use, limiting the hours of TV and the number of screens, and limiting screen times to one hour per day.
But the “no screens” parenting style is neither new nor universal. According to a recent Pew Research survey, it is not even a well-established parenting style in the United States. Only 8 percent of adults say that they or a partner use screen time as a way to teach a child about social issues, while only 7 percent report using screen time in a similar way when teaching a child about technology.
But parents who use this style are in a particularly vulnerable boat. They know firsthand that screen time is a big factor in their children’s behavior. Yet the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting children’s screen time to no more than 2 hours per day, citing research demonstrating that children exposed