Just a few years ago, childhood was about going to school, being active, meeting new friends, and playing outside. In a single generation, the whole concept of childhood has been turned on its head. Today's kids have televisions and computers in the classroom, more than one television in their homes, and tablets in their backpacks. They no longer play outside or meet face to face, preferring to interact with one another through the filter of a video game or online chat service. Though this has become the norm, there are a lot of us out there who believe it's not healthy, and that we should try to return to the old ways as much as possible.

Screen Time is dedicated to increasing awareness of just how much time kids (and adults too!) spend in front of screens and what the adverse effects of doing so are. How much screen time is too much for a web designer or computer programmer? It's our mission to break the lure of the screen and help people return to meaningful face to face interaction with the world and each other. If you're looking for more information about the effects of screen time, how much is healthy, and what you can do to reduce your family's dependence on screens, you've come to the right place. We have lots of information, ideas, and statistics for you to sink your teeth into.

So how much time do you spend in front of a screen, anyway? It's more than you think. When you review your day, taking into account that you watch the weather channel when you wake up, then check your email, then surf Facebook on your smart phone on the bus to work, then work 8 hours on a computer, come home and put the TV news on over dinner, then tune into your favorite prime time shows, you realize that nearly all of your waking hours are spent in front of a screen! And it's nearly as bad for kids, especially those who regularly use computers in school.

You might be wondering what the harm in using your screens all the time if they're what keep you connected to the world and to each other. It's a fair question. But have you noticed yourself getting headaches? Blurred vision? Sore eyes? These are symptoms of the eyestrain that comes from staring at a backlit screen all day. You may also have noticed that though you comment on others' Facebook posts several times a day, you can count on one hand the number of times you see them in person per month. This is a symptom of how your social skills suffer with increased screen dependence.

So what can you do about it? Plenty! You can take back your social life by having regular family dinners with no screens allowed. Introduce a family game night once a week when no screens are allowed as well. You can set special no-screen hours for yourself and your family, and you can make an effort to spend less time on the internet and more time out in the world. We can show you how.


This website is supported by Sunrise Kids Dental. The overall health and well being of your kids is their number one priority. Learn more.