Screen time
February 15, 2024 Addictions
Psychosocial Workers
Exposure to screens continues to increase on a daily basis, in schools, at work and at home (interactive whiteboards, tablets, smartphones, computers, televisions, etc.).
Leisure screen time can have positive effects, but it can also have negative impacts on mental and physical health. In addition to being active for at least an hour a day, we recommend a number of measures to minimize the impact of screen time.
4 recommendations by age:
Under the age of 2:
- No screen time is recommended.
- Screens can impair the development of language, vision, motor skills, and interpersonal skills.
Ages 2 to 5:
- Maximum recommended screen time is less than an hour a day.
- Even if children are attracted by the colors, movement, and sounds produced by screens, they are generally too young to understand everything they see.
For children aged 6 to 12:
- The recommended maximum is two hours a day.
- This depends on the type of screen, the context in which it is used, and the individual characteristics of the child (age, physical/mental health, analytical skills, etc.).
For 13 to 19-year-olds:
- There is no longer any specific time limit suggested for this age group, but rather an analysis of the situation based on the type of content (schoolwork, social media, video games, chat, broadcasts, etc.).
Did you know?
The most recent data shows that young people in Canada spend more than seven hours a day in front of screens, from grade 6 through to the end of high school. According to the Institut de la statistique du Québec, one young person in five (aged 12-24) spends 35 hours or more a week in front of a screen. To reduce the negative impact of screen time, it's important to promote sports, creative leisure activities, reading, and outings with family and friends.
Source
