Do Your Kids Have Too Much Screen Time?

There is no dispute that Singaporean kids are spending way too much time on their digital devices. How did we get here?

In Singapore, 8-12 year olds spend an average of 35 hours a week in front of their screens for entertainment alone. That’s 3 hours more than the global average. This is a concerning trend, as it can lead to a lack of physical activity, social isolation, and increased stress levels. It often begins with parents giving a mobile device to their children, as young as infants, as a way to distract and occupy them. When it comes to babies, Dr Kathy Hirsh-Patek, director of Temple University’s Infant Language Lab and also a mother, said screens from a mobile device were like “digital candy.” The more you give, the more they will want it.

In 2018, the newspaper reported about a 5-year old boy who had to see a Counsellor after throwing his phone at the wall in a fit of rage after being told by his parents to stop using it. This boy clearly had an addiction problem. The boy’s addiction started when his parents would use the smartphone to distract him during mealtimes. Parents must understand that once you give your child a mobile device, there is practically no turning back. Try taking it back. It is worse than pulling teeth.

What is the correct way to introduce screens and digital devices to children?

Singapore’s Ministry of Health recommends that children under 18 months old should not have any screen time, as the early years are a critical window for children’s cognitive development. It also suggests limiting total screen use to less than one hour a day for children between 18 and 36 months old.

For children older than two years, limit media to one hour or less per day of high-quality programming. Experts recommend that parents use the device with their child (instead of leaving the child alone with the device) to promote enhanced learning, greater interaction, and limit setting. 

Food for Thought: What methods have you used to limit your children’s screen time?