Tips for Healthy Screen Use

To ensure your child benefits from screen time while minimizing potential downsides, consider the following tips:

Active Screen Use: Choose activities that engage your child's mind or body, like homework, exercise programs, video games, or video chatting. Active screen use promotes cognitive and physical engagement.
Co-viewing Media: Watch and discuss content with your child to keep them actively engaged. Co-viewing helps you monitor what they are watching and encourages meaningful conversations.
Manage Screen Use: Balance screen time with physical activities, social interactions, and sleep. Having a varied routine helps prevent the negative effects of excessive screen use.
Parental Engagement: Be involved and talk to your kids about their online activities. Showing interest and providing guidance helps children navigate the digital world safely.
Role-Modeling: Demonstrate positive screen habits. Your kids will follow your example, so it's important to exhibit balanced and healthy screen use yourself.

• Background Screen Use: Avoid leaving devices on when not being used, as it can lead to decreased interpersonal communication and shortened attention span.

• Passive Screen Use: Limit sedentary viewing. Encourage interactive and thoughtful screen use. Passive screen use without engagement can hinder decision-making, attention, and social interaction skills.
• Moderate Recreational Screen Use: Balance fun screen time with other activities. Ensure recreational screen use doesn't displace physical activities, in-person social interactions, and sleep.

Difficulty Regulating Screen Use
Recognizing signs of difficulty in regulating screen use-such as neglecting responsibilities, unwillingness to share devices, lying about usage, poor sleep, antisocial behavior, poor emotional regulation, and extreme tantrums-is crucial. If these signs are present, discuss screen habits with your child and create a balanced timetable together. If there's no improvement and behavior continues to affect their life, seek professional help. Balancing screen use with other activities is essential for your child's well-being. Stay engaged, be a role model, and utilize the provided resources for more support.

Source:
Guidance on Screen Use in Children, Ministry of Health, Singapore. 2023.
Available from: https://go.gov.sg/moh-screenadvisory