Some reasons why it can be important to limit screen time:

• Children with TVs in their bedrooms have higher rates of obesity.
• Kids who spend more time with screens tend to have poorer nutrition behaviors, get less sleep, and exercise less.
• Kids who spend more than two hours a day on screens score lower on language and thinking tests, and show decreased levels of attention. (Reference study)
• Kids learn to be creative and problem solve by playing, not watching.
• Too much TV is linked to behavioral and academic problems at school.
• Screen time, whether from watching TV, social media, or playing games, can delay and interact with our abilities to get a good night's sleep.

Some ideas to consider when creating a plan of action:

• Try to only use TV when you really need it—avoid having the TV always on.
• Have a central place—outside of bedrooms—where all devices are stored and charged overnight. Set up a nightly time to "check-in" each device and a corresponding "wake up" time when it's OK to use them again the next day.
• Watch TV with your kids, instead of leaving them on their own, as much as possible.
• Check sites like Common Sense Media for reviews of programs your kids are interested in, so you can discuss the potential dangers and determine if it's appropriate to watch.
• Check the chart below for some guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics.