Screen time in the form of TV, video games, computers, phones/tablets are a normal part of day to day life, so this is a very common question I get from parents. The World Health Organization recently released recommendations for children: for 1 year old and younger, screen time is not recommended and 2-4 year olds should have no more than 1 hour (less is better).
For children 5 and up, we want to limit near work (reading, screen time, homework) to 3 hours per day. Studies have shown that increased exposure to sunlight, ball sports, and outdoor activity can reduce the risk of a child becoming nearsighted and improve cognitive and motor development.
Lastly, during near work/screen time everyone benefits from the 20-20-20 rule: for every 20 minutes of near work, we should take 20 seconds and look 20 feet away. The more active our children are now, the healthier life they are bound to lead in the future.
Allendale Family Vision is here for you and your family. Give them a call today to book your appointments! 616-895-2020 - Dr Lillie and the Allendale Family Vision staff are active members of the community and committed to providing state of the art vision care to their patients.
