FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – As students settle back into the new school year, parents might experience a struggle with regulating screen time on electronic devices.
A lot of school work is now done on a tablet or other electronic device.
A nurse practitioner with Lutheran Health Physicians said while that is a challenge, screen time should still be limited to two hours a day.
Too much time on screens, she said, can create a long list of negative side effects.
“It can impact development,” Emily Metzinger, Lutheran Health Physicians Nurse Practitioner, said. “It can affect social and physical and emotional and cognitive development. It can affect sleep and focus and social interactions and overall lead to sedentary lifestyle which can lead to obesity in children.”
She added, if possible, ask if teachers can print out assignments to help limit screen time.
It’s also recommended to avoid screen time two hours before bedtime.
A new study by the University of Copenhagen also found children and young adults who spend a lot of time on screens and electronic devices may have a higher risk for high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
The study said every extra hour of daily screen time raised the risk of cardiovascular problems for ten year olds and 18 year olds.
Researchers say part of the reason may be that excess screen time is linked with not getting enough sleep.
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