Did you know the average american child spends over 7 hours in front of a screen every day? That’s as much as many working adults spend at work each week… a huge amount of time! How many times have you handed your child a device to avoid a tantrum, unwanted noise or to fight off boredom?
“Too often children are given screens to pacify and occupy them when it’s not an emergency or special occasion. Instead of learning how to live in the real world of communicating with people and occasionally feeling bored, they are given a screen world for their entertainment pleasure. More and more studies demonstrate the adverse effects of screen time on the brain and your child’s social and emotional development.” (pg. 28)
“When a screen-driven child faces an uncertain task, they often disengage and stop paying attention. They check out mentally when they hear something that doesn’t interest them. In the screen world, children are trained daily to get what they want, when they want it, and how they want it. That may hold their attention fast, but it doesn’t sound much like the real world we are preparing our children to live in.”
Rachel @ Wife, Then Mama says
January 23, 2015 at 4:29 pmOn a daily basis, in an ideal world: none. I try to aim for 3 hours a week, but don’t always succeed if you count the time I spend watching TV while they are playing in the same room.
Laura says
January 21, 2015 at 10:08 pmIdeally less than an hour per day!
Amy D says
December 30, 2014 at 9:55 amI am not sure, that is why I really want to read this book. My daughter is captivated by certain Disney Junior tv shows, and I don’t know if it’s helping her or hurting her. I would like to think that she developed some vocabulary from watching these shows. She currently watches about 1 to 1 1/2 hours of tv every day.
Jodi Kershuk says
December 29, 2014 at 8:26 pmIn a perfect world, none. In my home, no more than 2 hours and its at 15-20 minute intervals, spaced out over the day.
Debbie Bray says
December 28, 2014 at 6:42 pmI think 2 hours is good