The Canadian Ophthalmological Society says parents should consider giving screen-free presents this holiday season.
The society’s Dr. Stephanie Anne Dotchin says kids’ screen time has been on the rise over the past few years, which translates to an increase in vision problems — particularly nearsightedness — especially when it comes to heavy use of close screens like tablets or smartphones.
The amount of daily screen time, she said, increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, as many kids moved to virtual schooling, but it has remained high even as things returned to normal.
“(Kids spend) 4.4 hours a day in front of a screen on average, which is 1.2 more hours than before the pandemic,” Dotchin told 680 CJOB’s The Start.
“We’d like to see that number go down to at least pre-pandemic levels, if not less.”
That number, Dotchin said, would ideally be chopped in half.
“Two hours a day, maximum, would be great to see for our kids — and limit particularly that near-screen time work, closer than 30 centimetres, like the tablet and the iPhone.”
In addition to the physical impacts too much close screen time can have on kids’ vision, there are other impacts of spending too much time on a device as well.
“In addition, it can make you feel lethargic and less social in general,” she said.