iPads, Television, Computers, smart phones oh my! Everywhere we turn around our children have exposure to a screen to play video games, have educational interactions or just watch cartoons. But how much is too much and how much screen time should there be at schools?
Children under the age of 6 spend, on average, 2 hours per day in front of a screen. Excessive screen time (TV, tablets, iPads, and portable video equipment) has been linked to poor performance in school, poor dietary habits and an increase in childhood obesity leading to chronic diseases.
The nutrition educators, Registered Dietitians and physical activity staff at FLIPANY work with the TOUCH initiative to encourage increasing physical activity and nutrition education over screen time in school.
The TOUCH initiative encourages schools to limit screen time to 30 minutes per week during 8 hour days at the preschool level. Encouraging alternatives such as free play, nutrition related activities and story time with nutrition related books instead of screen time has been successful in reducing the amount of time children sit in front of a screen.
For more information on how parents, schools and communities can decrease screen time click on these resources below:
www.ScreenFree.org
www.HealthyKidsHealthyFuture.org
Remember to turn the screen off and get out and play every day!
