Summer, Sun, and…Screens, oh my!

It’s the last day of school, and your child comes home with a bag of goodies from the end-of-year class party and a face full of excitement for the upcoming summer. In between the plans for playdates at the community pool and the annual family beach trip, it’s important to consider an unintended summer companion in today’s world – the modern “screen.” Screens are all around us, from our personal phones to televisions to even the car display. The presence of these digital technologies offers numerous educational and lifestyle benefits, yet at the same time, it is essential to note that misuse and overuse of screens can hold serious health and developmental implications for the growing child. As we approach the start of summer vacation, here are some tips I hope to share with my pediatric patients and families regarding screen use:

Risks of improper and/or excess screen use

• Delays in learning and/or impacts on social skill development across all ages.
• Risk of decreased physical activity.
• Emotional dysregulation with risk of behavioral and mental health impacts.
• Sleep disruption with reduced sleep duration and lower sleep quality overall.
• Negative impacts on school performance.
• Exposure to developmentally inappropriate content, cyberbullying, online scams/predators.

After considering the many health implications associated with improper screen use for your child, the family iPad can seemingly go from an innocent companion to an ever-present bogeyman that’s here to stay this summer. Despite claims of the “perfect screen-time limit” praised across mommy blogs and TikTok, it’s important to focus on creating personalized and intentional media use plans for your child within the vast digital ecosystem. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently published updated guidelines that help to shift this framework beyond individual screen time to meaningful interactions starting at the family-level. Here are some strategies you can consider using to approach screens with your family this upcoming summer vacation.

Optimizing screen use in summertime

• Offer access to developmentally appropriate digital media.
• Learn about your child’s favorite apps and media to promote healthy habits and encourage meaningful connections.
• Discuss types of digital media engagement with your child to foster active educational and creative content over passive exposures.
• Promote self-reflection by having open, non-judgmental conversations.
• Model behaviors you hope to see, such as no texting while driving and healthy time limits.
• Create a “Family Media Plan” (Available from AAP in English or Spanish).
• Consider parental control tools/apps to monitor screen usage and make informed media choices for your child.

Maximize screen-free time

• Encourage connection and conversation to talk about your day and discuss what your child is engaging with online.
• Cultivate fun screen-free spaces, such as the bedroom or dinner table, to create boundaries and maintain safe limits.
• Offer alternative wind-down activities in the evening to ensure screens are off at least an hour before bedtime.
• Consider setting clear expectations/responsibilities before screen use to encourage accountability.
• Explore new non-screen hobbies with your child or go on adventures in the outdoor world around you.

As a pediatrician, I appreciate the numerous benefits screens can offer us, from access to a vast web of health knowledge to the ubiquitous “6-7” joke that coaxes a laugh from my adolescent patients. At the same time, I caution against the risk that unrestricted screen use can carry. These tips are intended to help you support your child’s interaction with screens in healthy ways. With summer nearly upon us, there is no better time to learn how to swim together as a family in this deep ocean of modern digital media.

By Dr. Fariya Fatima, first-year pediatric resident