Upbringing
How long young people should sit in front of the screen
Experts want to help parents limit their children’s screen time with concrete tips. photo
© Annette Riedl/dpa
Social networks, television, gaming: screen time for children and young people is a controversial topic in many families. Experts provide parents with guidelines.
Get in the closet with the console and put an hourglass next to the tablet: experts want to help parents with concrete tips to limit their screen time Limit children.
The less time they spend in front of screens, the better it is for children and young people, according to a guideline that was developed under the leadership of the German Society for Child and Adolescent Medicine (DGKJ) and with the participation of the University of Witten/Herdecke. The aim is to prevent the development of addiction.
The recommended total screen time from watching TV to gaming on the computer to using the Internet on a smartphone:
Under 3 years: The very youngest children should be kept away from all passive and active use of screen media, as the authors write. This means that parents, for example, should not constantly look at their cell phones in front of them. 3 to 6 years: We recommend a maximum of 30 minutes on individual days to introduce them to such media. The child should not be left alone. Using a sand timer or stopwatch can help you understand how quickly time flies in front of the screen. 6 to 9 years: a maximum of 30 to 45 minutes on individual days, outside of homework on the screen. 9 to 12 years: a maximum of 45 to 60 Minutes in your free time in front of a screen and only supervised internet access. 12 to 16 years: a maximum of one to two hours a day in your free time and no later than 9 p.m. Still with content support and limited internet access. 16 to 18 years: Set the time through rules; two hours of leisure time per day are given as a guideline.
Own devices:
According to the guidelines, children under the age of nine should neither have their own game console nor free internet access. Those who own their own console spend, on average, twice as much time playing computer games as children without one. The authors recommend storing the device in a locked cupboard so that parents can decide how it is used. Owning a smartphone is recommended for ages 9 and up at the earliest, and preferably ages 12 and up at the earliest, although internet access should be limited. From the age of 16 it can be unrestricted.
The experts recommend spending time on smartphones, tablets or TV with “high-quality content”, especially for younger children. If possible, parents should be there and talk to their children afterwards about what they saw.
Screen media should also not be used as a reward, punishment or to calm people down, it said. It is advisable to put the devices aside completely during meals. On the subject of teaching, it says: “Parents and teachers should be informed and supported to avoid digital distance learning whenever possible.”