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As stated by Etchells (2017) there is no evidence that too much screen time is harmful to children, and there is no substantiated proof that too much screen time can be the cause of children’s declining health. He claimed that there is the need for more research on this subject. I agree that using technology is a big part of our everyday lives, and with technology continuing to advance at a rapid rate, our children will be using screens more and more, whether it is to play a video game, chat with friends online, or watch a show on TV. This is definitely an important issue, one that ought to be further researched.

As a mother, I always felt guilty letting my children watch too much TV or play too many video games, and everywhere I looked, I would see someone saying how bad excessive screen time was for my children. This article has definitely given me something to think about. I realize now that I should have looked at the evidence and seen if research could prove this fact instead of just feeling guilty because I had heard screen time was bad. From my personal experience raising my three children, I can testify that children need a balance of face-to-face interactions with others plus online interactions and watching TV in order to develop healthy social abilities in today’s world.

 

Reference:

Etchells, P., et al. (January 6, 2017). Screen Time Guidelines should be built on evidence, not hype. The Guardian.