Controlling Screen Time for Children with ADHD

Parents are often concerned about their child’s screen time and report difficulty enforcing limits. Screen time includes time with all screens including social media, online gaming, and watching videos. Enforcing limits on screen time can be particularly challenging for children who have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) due to difficulties with self-monitoring and inattention. As a child therapist, parents often tell me that their child grabs their phone out of their purse, asks to use their tablet constantly, and cries when denied. This leads to parents often giving in to such requests, which only encourages this behavior in the future. Screen time is a frequent topic of discussion in child therapy and many parents can benefit from learning skills to manage their child’s screen time. Screen Time Today Screen time is nearly impossible to avoid. The majority of children between of 5-16 years old play video-games regularly (at least 1 hour per day) and a recent Norwegian study found that over 75% of children play for over 2 hours per day. The American Academy of Pediatrics currently recommends 1 hour per day of screen time. Screen time in moderation is a part of everyday life and it is important for children to learn skills related to electronic devices in order to function in the modern world. Your child’s friends at school are using devices regularly and if your child doesn’t play similar games, it can be difficult for them to participate in related co...
Source: Psych Central - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Attention Deficit Disorder Parenting Social Networking Source Type: news