Parents should set screen time limits for their kids for several important reasons related to their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Promote a healthy digital lifestyle and foster your kid with good behavior and balanced school-leisure time.
Screen Time Recommendations by Age
Based on the recommendation from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Hong Kong Department, this is a guideline to promote healthy development and prevent potential negative impacts associated with excessive screen time.
- Under 2 years: no screen time is recommended, avoid letting them in contact with any electronic screen products.
- Ages 2-5 years: there should be no more than 1 hour of sedentary screen time per day
- Ages 5 and up: while the guidelines are less specific, it’s generally recommended to limit screen time to two hours a day, excluding schoolwork.
Here are the key benefits of managing screen time:
- Supports Better Sleep:
- Blue light from screens disrupts melatonin production, making it harder for kids to fall asleep. Setting screen-free time before bed helps improve sleep quality and duration.
- Enhances Critical Thinking:
- Too much screen time can shorten attention spans and reduce focus on learning. Balanced screen use allows more time for reading, creative play, and problem-solving activities.
- Encourages Social & Emotional Skills:
- Overuse of screens can reduce face-to-face interactions, affecting communication and empathy. Limited screen time fosters real-world relationships, teamwork, and emotional intelligence.
- Prevents Screen Addiction & Overstimulation:
- Uncontrolled screen exposure can lead to dependence on digital entertainment.
- Setting boundaries helps kids develop self-regulation and healthier hobbies.
- Protects Mental Health:
- Excessive social media or gaming can contribute to anxiety, low self-esteem, and cyberbullying risks.
- Balanced screen time supports happier, more emotionally stable kids.
- Ensures Age-Appropriate Content:
- Parental controls and limits help filter violent, addictive, or inappropriate content. Kids benefit from educational, high-quality media instead of mindless scrolling.
How do parents manage screen time for your kid with ParSon?
- Set schedule to prevent overuse
- Parents can schedule the amount of screen time for your kid. Setting a daily schedule helps kids develop healthy habits while minimizing resistance.
- Manage the app usage
- With ParSon, Parents can decide which apps your kid uses and hide apps that are inappropriate for them to use.
- Parents can block inappropriate apps while allowing or scheduling apps that are educational, social, and entertainment.