Healthy screen time is one challenge of distance learning
Science News for Students, September 11, 2020
My editor called me with a question. If screens are the only safe way for many kids to learn right now, is that bad for their health in other ways? It’s an interesting question. In the past, experts had recommended 2 hours or less of screen time every day for school-aged kids. Staring at a screen is not great for the eyes. And it usually means sitting still for long periods, which isn’t good for the body. Plus, kids with high amounts of screen time also tended to have a number of other issues with their health and cognitive development.
But the link between screens and health problems is not simple or straightforward, especially during a global pandemic.
Right now, staying off screens could mean missing school, or missing your only chance to connect with family and friends.
All of the experts I spoke to for this article had the same advice. Quality of screen time matters more than quantity. Try to use screens mainly for education, social interaction, or interactive gaming. Also make sure your screen time doesn’t take the place of active time or sleep time. And you should be fine!
The biggest surprise for me while working on this article was how well many kids are handling the change. Nia (pictured here) and her brother Tyson both felt like they’d gotten used to distance learning. And they pointed out lots of good things about it. Nia liked setting her own schedule and being able to pace around while thinking. Tyson liked doing more computer-based projects.
So the important takeaway for me is this: how we can incorporate what we learned about education during this strange time to make things better in the future?
Photo credit: Nicole Patton-Terry