Screen Time: How to keep your child safe during summer25 July 2019 (by Lisa Slight (lslight)) |
Screen time can be an easy way to keep children entertained during the holidays. Know the risks, and what you can do to keep your child safe and healthy.
The risks:
Spending time on mobile phones, tablets, laptops, computers and game consoles can be positive and trouble-free, but it can also put your child at risk of:
Online bullying.
Seeing sexual or violent photos, videos or other images
Grooming (when someone builds a relationship with a child to exploit or abuse them)
Not getting enough exercise
UK doctors also say that children with higher screen time:
Tend to eat less healthily and show more signs of obesity
Tend to have more depressive symptoms
Are likely to have worse educational outcomes, sleep and fitness levels
This may be because the screen time is replacing other activities, like exercise or sleeping. Face-to-face interaction also seems to be better for children’s development.
Further details can be found on the attached fact sheet.
