Don't let screen time take over

The COVID-19 crisis and restricted social contact has many people spending more time in front of electronic screens. It might be the family TV, business laptop or streaming on the smartphone. For children, it’s often some gaming device or social media via their phones. Whatever, the result is that screen time is increasing significantly.

While business demands for adults and online classes for children are clear reasons why today’s world requires people to spend more time with their electronic devices, many people are also spending a great many more voluntary hours online just to fill in time.

Too much screen time isn’t going to make anyone go blind, though it can lead to eye fatigue and headaches. But those excessive hours online can have a negative effect on family life.

If every family member constantly has their faces buried in their favorite electronic time killers, there is usually less time for family sharing and interaction. They may notice their children aren’t sleeping as usual, they seem to get little or no exercise and have trouble showing up at set mealtimes. Look a little closer and they may find that their own screen time is also encroaching on what should be other, normal activities.

So how to fix the problem? A starting point is simply to develop a schedule. Video game time for children shouldn’t be available whenever they can’t think of anything else to do, but maybe a two-hour block after they’ve done their chores or schoolwork, and another block while dinner is being prepared. If there’s online class assignments to be tackled, make that clearly separated on the schedule from play time.

Adults’ screen time can also be scheduled. Time spent watching TicTok videos, or constantly streaming old TV shows can usually be used in more productive and fulfilling ways. Yes, physical exercise and outdoor time should be on the schedule, but art projects, reading, gardening or starting a new hobby can also deserve time blocks.

Having to turn off that electronic plaything with nothing else to do is going to frustrate both children and adults. But using that time instead for something interesting, maybe even educational or fun, makes the day more fulfilling and can help make time back online more enjoyable and entertaining, which is what it should be.

Counseling Corner is provided by the American Counseling Association. Send comments and questions to [email protected] or visit http://www.counseling.org.