Screen Time: How much is ok?

I often get asked by parents, “how much screen time is ok for my kids?”. Well, here’s the thing, when we use the term ‘screen time, it can refer to such a myriad of different ways in which we engage with screens. It is time we reconsidered the generic use of the term ‘screen time, and here’s why.

Consider how different the following activities are, that are all loosely categorised as screen time:

Building an imaginative city in Minecraft collaboratively with their sibling
Watching “epic fail” videos
Playing an intense, multiplayer, first-person shooter game
Watching a Disney film
Learning a language using an app like Duolingo

As you can see, it is clear that not all screen time is created equal!

We need to start reshaping our understanding of screen time to be much more than just several hours per day/week but instead focus more on the type of screen time. Watch the video below as I explain a simple way that you, together with your children, can use the SPIIE challenge to start reflecting on the different types of screen time. From this reflection comes balance, and after all, balance is the key!

Guest Contributor: Carley McGauran & Martin McGauran
Business Name: Inform & Empower
Publisher: Digital Schools

Carley McGauran (renowned as the ‘practical parent psychologist’) together with Martin McGauran (experienced primary school teacher and consultant) founded Inform & Empower. They promote healthy school communities through incursions, teacher professional learning and parent education on a range of topics including cyber safety, wellbeing and readiness for school. For more information visit www.informandempower.com.au

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Tags Grown Ups Notable People Parents and Families Wellbeing

Digital Schools

The content by "Digital Schools" which can be found under the "Guest Contributor" category on this platform is produced by Digital Schools PTY LTD. Digital Schools works in partnership with the school as a 3rd party provider to help build and maintain the school website. As well as this, we assist the school by engaging with a range of experts who already provide products and/or services to educational institutions and we work with them to produce and publish information to this website that we think may be relevant, interesting or topical to families within the community. PLEASE NOTE: The views, opinions and content published by us are that of the "Guest Contributor" and/or publisher (Digital Schools). It should be noted that whilst the publisher and guest contributors are acting with the best intentions and in the best interests of the school and their community, sometimes the content may not necessarily reflect the views of the school. We welcome your feedback. Down the bottom of this page is a feedback form so you can let us know what you think.