Worry less about children's screen use, parents told

Children looking at a tablet at night Image copyright Getty Images






Most of the evidence in the review was based on television screen time, but also included other screen use, such as phones and computers.


'No evidence of being toxic'


It said there was no good evidence that time in front of a screen is "toxic" to health, as is sometimes claimed.




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Media captionParent and blogger Leyla Preston speaking on BBC Breakfast



  • Is your family's screen time under control?
  • Does screen use interfere with sleep?
  • Are you able to control snacking during screen time?

Dr Max Davie, officer for health promotion for the RCPCH, said phones, computers and tablets were a "great way to explore the world", but parents were often made to feel that there was something "indefinably wrong" about them.


"But if there are problems and you're having difficulties, screen time can be a contributing factor."

Dr Russell Viner, president of the RCPCH, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme "screens are part of modern life", adding: "The genie is out of the bottle - we cannot put it back."

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He said: "We need to stick to advising parents to do what they do well, which is to balance the risks and benefits.

"One size doesn't fit all, parents need to think about what's useful and helpful for their child."

Parents should consider their own use of screens, if screen time is controlled in their family, and if excessive use is affecting their child's development and everyday life, he added.

What do parents say?

A number of parents have been in touch with the BBC to say they disagree with the guidance and feel it does not go far enough.

"There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that screen time is damaging school performance and sports performance and dangerously addictive," says Andy, whose son is 14.

Andy said he had restricted his son's screen time to Friday after school and Saturday, and, despite some "grumbling", there had been an improvement in school performance.

For tips on how to limit excessive screen time, click here.

'Grey area'


The devices stimulate the brain, and the blue light produced by them can disrupt the body's secretion of the sleep hormone melatonin.


Overall, it found the effect of screen time on children's health was small when considered next to other factors like sleep, physical activity, eating, bullying and poverty.





Dr Davie added: "When it comes to screen time I think it is important to encourage parents to do what is right by their family.

"However, we know this is a grey area and parents want support, and that's why we have produced this guide.


The college called for better quality research to understand more about how the content on devices, and the context in which they are used, affects health outcomes.

Tips for parents:

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Image caption Mealtimes can be good for screen-free zones
  • Mealtimes can be good opportunities for screen-free zones
  • If children's screen time use seems out of control, parents should consider intervening

Source: RCPCH

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