03/05/2026
📱 Less Screen Time, More Childhood
Children need real play, conversation, sleep, and family bonding for healthy brain development. Screens can be helpful when used wisely, but too much screen time may affect a child’s eyes, sleep, attention, mood, school performance, and social development.
For infants and toddlers:
Children below 2 years old learn best through hands-on play and interaction with caregivers. Screen use should be very limited. Video calls with family are okay, especially when an adult is present and talking with the child.
For preschoolers:
Choose high-quality educational shows and watch together. Keep screen time short, ideally around 1 hour per day or less.
For school-age children:
Balance screen time with outdoor play, reading, creativity, family time, and enough sleep. Avoid screens during homework and keep gadgets out of the bedroom at night.
For teens:
Social media can help them connect and learn, but parents should guide, monitor, and set limits. Watch for signs of problematic use, such as poor sleep, irritability, lying about gadget use, or inability to stop scrolling.
Healthy family screen rules:
✅ No screens during meals
✅ No gadgets in bedrooms at night
✅ Stop screen time at least 1 hour before bedtime
✅ Encourage outdoor play and reading
✅ Use age-appropriate content
✅ Parents should model healthy gadget use too
Limit today. Lead tomorrow.
Your child’s future is worth it.
Balles Children’s Clinic
📞 (0925) 556-7523
