Summertime means more free time for youth. Without the school day to occupy them, many children and teens find themselves entertained by TV, video games, websites and digital devices. While these devices can be comforting on a rainy day or a means of decompressing, many parents, caregivers and camp staff may wonder: How is screen time affecting the health and development of the youth in our lives?
The answer is in the research:
- By the time children turn 10 years old, every additional hour of television they watched as toddlers is associated with lower math and school achievement, reduced physical activity and victimization by classmates in middle childhood (JAMA Pediatrics Opens a new window).
- For every hour of television children watch, they are 8 percent less likely to eat fruit every day, 18 percent more likely to eat candy and 16 percent more likely to eat fast food (Time Opens a new window).
Meeting the needs of human connection...
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