In an age where digital devices have become central to our daily lives, it's no surprise that our children are spending more time in front of screens. From online learning to entertainment, screens are everywhere, offering both opportunities and challenges. As parents, finding a healthy balance between screen time and other essential activities is more critical than ever.
Dr. Kristy Goodwin, a leading expert in digital wellbeing, recently addressed this pressing issue, urging both schools and parents to be mindful of how much time children spend on digital devices. Rather than resorting to strict bans, Dr. Goodwin advocates for a more measured approach—one that acknowledges the benefits of technology while also recognising the potential risks of overuse.
During her talk, Dr. Goodwin highlighted some startling statistics about our relationship with digital devices. On average, one-eighth of our lives is spent connected to the digital world. She suggested that if current trends continue, individuals may spend up to 17 years of their lives on mobile phones alone. Even more concerning is the fact that 75% of students nationwide admit to being addicted to their phones.
The increasing digitization of childhood has led to significant changes in how children spend their free time. Many now opt for screens instead of traditional outdoor activities like playing outside. While digital devices offer numerous advantages, they also pose challenges to both mental and physical health. Studies have shown that excessive screen time can lead to decreased attention spans, cognitive difficulties, disrupted sleep, behavioural issues, and overall declines in wellbeing. Dr. Goodwin emphasises that children's fundamental developmental needs—including relationships, language, sleep, play, movement, nutrition, and executive function—are being compromised by too much screen time, with sleep and movement being the most affected.
Guiding Your Child's Digital Journey
To help children maintain a healthy balance between screen time and other vital activities, it's essential for parents to set clear and consistent boundaries. Limiting screen time, even when it's met with resistance, is vital for their overall health.
Dr. Goodwin encourages parents to take an active role in managing their children's screen time, particularly when it comes to smartphone use. With the average age of exposure to explicit content now as low as eight years old, it's more important than ever for parents to establish and enforce strong boundaries around digital media.
Daily Screen Time Guidelines
For children aged 5-12, Dr. Goodwin offers the following recommendations to promote digital wellbeing:
• Sleep: Ensure your child gets 9-10 hours of quality sleep each night.
• Screen Time: Limit screen time to a maximum of two hours per day, including all forms of digital media.
• Physical Activity: Encourage at least one hour of exercise daily.
She also recommends no screens for at least 60 minutes before bedtime—to ensure better sleep.
Creating a balanced approach to screen time is about more than just limiting device use; it's about fostering a healthier, more fulfilling lifestyle for your children. By setting clear boundaries, modelling good digital behaviour, and encouraging activities that promote wellbeing, you can guide your child toward a more balanced relationship with technology. Together, we can support our children in navigating the digital world in a way that enhances their lives rather than detracts from them.
At St Gregory’s we are conscious of using technology as a tool to enhance and support learning, to develop skills that are necessary to help navigate technology and to develop a healthy relationship with the digital world.
Diana Ivancic
Head of Junior School