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During the summer holidays – and throughout the year – a great number of children are enthralled with some type of electronic device, and spend a lot of time staring at a screen.
This is, understandably, a perennial battle between parents and offspring. From as young as infancy our children are exposed to these ubiquitous devices with mesmerising games, while the older ones are constantly texting and sharing photos and videos with their peers.
However, as challenging as it is, as responsible parents we need to put our feet down to limit screen time to protect our children’s mental and physical development.
Obesity: Sitting in front of a television or computer is a “sedentary behaviour,” so doesn’t burn much energy. Children often use a device for four to six hours a day, which translates to a lot of sitting. This means that fewer children are getting the necessary physical activity to keep them active and healthy.
Sleep loss: Since electronic devices emit blue light, they can interfere with production of melatonin, the hormone responsible for regulating sleep. In a March 2026 article Pacific Pediatrics notes, “When children use screens in the evening, especially close to bedtime, their bodies may not recognise that it is time to rest. This can make it harder for them to fall asleep and may lead to shorter or lower-quality sleep overall.
“When children do not get enough rest, they may become more irritable, have difficulty concentrating, and struggle with emotional regulation. This can affect school performance, social interactions, and overall mood. Some children may appear hyperactive or inattentive when they are actually experiencing fatigue.”
Hand pain: Texting and gaming on phones wreaks havoc on hands. A 2015 study in the Muscle & Nerve journal found that college students with heavy phone usage showed more impaired hand function, thumb pain and repetitive-strain injuries than students who used phones less.
The European Society of Medicine’s June 2025 journal notes that “musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are becoming increasingly common among school-aged children, largely due to prolonged smartphone use, poor posture, and carrying heavy backpacks”. These can cause discomfort in the neck, back, shoulders, and hands – and even affect academic performance and mental health.
Headaches: A recent study published in the Journal of Neurology and Psychology showed the incidence of headaches was higher, longer and more frequent among people using phones for long periods than people with lower phone usage.
The mental effects of phone dependency are an even more serious cause for concern. It may permanently alter their brains, according to a new paper that reviewed and reported on current literature.
Obsessive behaviour
Apparently, the more adolescents use social media, the more stressed they are. In a CNN study in 2015 Dr. Marion Underwood surmised that adolescents are “addicted to the peer connection and affirmation they’re able to get via social media”, keeping abreast with what others are doing, how many people like what they post or follow or un-follow them daily.
A more recent CNN study (June 2026) revealed that children using screens in their rooms overnight “use them more and have more problematic screen use a year later, according to a national survey of nearly 8,000 12- to 14-year-olds published in the medical journal Acta Paediatrica”.
These children are ”more likely to be cyberbullied and to cyberbully others, according to a second study published last Tuesday in the Journal of Adolescent Health”. Notably, both reports drew on the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, the largest national long-term study of children’s health and brain development.
Negative influences
Furthermore, there seems to be a link between increased exposure to television or personal electronic devices and children’s views on junk food, alcohol and tobacco use and aggressive behaviour. Foods in commercials targetted at children usually have a high sugar fat or salt content, and video games and movies, sadly, often glorify violence.
Attention disorders
A big concern about smart phones is that they can cause attention problems. Among younger age groups parents’ own phone use can contribute to this. A small study in 2015 showed that when parents stop focusing on a baby in favour of their phone, the baby may mimic that behaviour by playing with toys (or screens) for only a short period of time.
Another study showed that people of all ages who have heavy internet and phone use are more prone to brain fog – impeded concentration, forgetfulness, poor spatial awareness and errors – regardless of whether they are using a phone at the time. These “cognitive failures” induced by include missed appointments, not noticing road signs, daydreaming during conversations and forgetting why they moved from one area of the house to another.
For children under two, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends no screen time at all, and for older children, only an hour or two a day. However, the organisation is revised those guidelines and issued more conservative ones October 2016.
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How to reduce your child’s screen time
David Hill, chairman of the AAP Council on Communications and Media and member of the Children, Adolescents and Media Leadership Working Group offers some tips to help parents reduce the time their children spend on screens.
Unplug by example
Parents, demonstrate mindfulness by putting down phones during meals or whenever your children need attention.
Praise “offline” behaviour
Validate your children and express interest when you see them riding a bicycle, colouring or engaged in any other offline activity. These interactions will heighten their awareness of the joys of the “real” world, and in so doing, they will also be pleased that they gain your attention.
Set limits and keep them
When determining boundaries, ask your children what they think is fair – even if you don’t actually use their suggestions, since this helps them feel important and gives them an opportunity for input. If the rules are broken, enforce the stipulated punishment (performing additional chores, removal of the device etc.) and STICK to it.
Cut TV time
Don’t keep televisions in children’s bedrooms, and don’t allow viewing at during meal time or homework. Don’t keep the TV on for background noise. If you plan to watch a show, decide on this in advance, and turn off the TV when it’s finished.
Monitor closely
The CNN study revealed that parents who made an effort to closely watch their child’s social media accounts had a tremendous effect on their child’s psychological well-being. While most parents “underestimated the amount of fighting taking place over social media”, one expert believed that parental monitoring “effectively erased” the negative effects of children’s online conflicts.