By Kerry Gallagher
In new research from Pew, parents shared what kinds of screens and what kinds of media their kids are using:
- 57% of parents of 11-12 year olds reported their kids have their own smartphones.
- YouTube is used by 62% of 2 year olds and that rises to 89% of 5-12 year olds.
- TikTok is used by 6% of children under 5 years old and that increases to 37% of 11-12 year olds.
With all of this screen use in mind, 86% of parents say they have rules about screen time at home, but only 19% say they stick to their rules all the time.
In a new report from CoSN titled Screens in Balance: Education, Technology, and Community Conversations, the authors analyzed screen use in K-12 schools by reviewing academic journals and news articles as well as conducting interviews of school principals, teachers, and district technology directors. Their findings can help parents and schools partner for more positive screen use habits in children:
- Not all screen time is the same: We should be careful not to conflate screen time for entertainment with screen time that is grounded in carefully designed learning activities created by professional educators.
- Entertainment with screens can fit: Screen use for entertainment can “be exciting, relaxing, and intriguing when used as a supplement to a life rich with a variety of activities.” In other words, streaming, gaming, and even scrolling can fit in our lives as long as we also engage in lots of non-screen entertainment and community-building activities.
- Home and school screen use can be complementary: Parents and teachers have conflicting feelings about screen use. “Beliefs in the pragmatism and efficacy of new technologies during childhood are accompanied by feelings of guilt and fear over their known (and unknown) long-term ramifications.” Adults can share both their clear guidelines and lingering questions about screen use with kids. Kids love to be part of the discussion and help create solutions with their parents and teachers.