Screens and Kids: What Parents Need to Know
Screens and Kids: What Parents Need to Know
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This topic matters to me because I have a special interest in children, teens, and technology. Recently, I listened to Dr. Brenna Hicks, a child therapist, who spoke about how screens are shaping children’s brains and behaviour. Her talk was eye-opening, and I want to share the key takeaways.
Dr. Hicks’ main message is clear: the choices we make about screens will shape not only our kids’ mental health right now but also the kind of adults they will become.
Screen time is linked to real struggles
Screen time is linked to real struggles
Research shows that too much screen time is connected to anxiety, depression, ADHD, poor sleep, emotional outbursts, and even suicidal thoughts in kids. Dr. Hicks describes screens as a “digital drug” because they light up the brain in the same way addictive substances do.
It's about the brain
It's about the brain
Whether it’s gaming, social media, or even “educational” apps, all screens overstimulate the brain. This constant stimulation keeps kids in a stress cycle and rewires the parts of the brain that control focus, impulse control, and emotional regulation.
Screen Time Recommendations
Screen Time Recommendations
Under 2 years old: no screens at all
Ages 2 to 5: less than 1 hour per day
Ages 5 to 17: 1 to 2 hours per day (including TV, phones, and schoolwork)
Right now, the average child is on screens 7 to 8 hours daily.
Social media is especially
Social media is especially
Apps like TikTok and Instagram are linked to anxiety, eating disorders, and body image concerns. Algorithms are designed to keep kids scrolling, not to keep them safe.
What parents can do
What parents can do
Keep devices out of bedrooms
Set clear family rules around screen use
Prioritise outdoor play, creativity, and in-person connection
Teach kids why limits matter: “My job is to keep you safe”
If a phone is needed, consider a call-and-text-only option
References
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2016). Media and young minds. Pediatrics, 138(5), e20162591. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-2591
Endocrine News. (2022, September 15). Excessive smartphone screen time linked to earlier puberty onset. Endocrine Society. https://endocrinenews.endocrine.org/excessive-smartphone-screen-time-linked-to-earlier-puberty-onset/
Hicks, B. (n.d.). Kids and Screens: What you MUST know [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40I7wStjnOY&t=477s
Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, W. K. (2018). Associations between screen time and lower psychological well-being among children and adolescents: Evidence from a population-based study. Preventive Medicine Reports, 12, 271–283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.10.003
Wu, X., Wang, L., Xue, P., Tang, J., Wang, H., Kong, H., Lin, C., Chang, B., & Liu, S. (2024). Association of screen exposure/sedentary behavior and precocious puberty/early puberty. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 12, 1366512. https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2024.1366512
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