12/23/2025
With winter break around the corner and holiday gifts ready to open, managing screen time for children might be on your mind! Too much screen time may negatively impact a young child’s social-emotional and language skills. Dr. Zarish Malik, Pediatric Medical Resident at Monmouth Medical Center, details the “5 Cs of Screen Time” you can use to monitor media consumption and strike a healthy balance for your little one this season! 🎮 📺 💻 📱
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The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests no screen time for children younger than 18 months (except video chat) and 1 hour/day of high-quality content for ages 2-5. For children 6 and older, the AAP recommends setting consistent limits, prioritizing sleep, activity, and school, and ensuring that screen time doesn’t displace healthy habit.
Here are 5 C’s of screen time:
The Child: Observe how your child behaves after screen time; are they excited and creative, or irritable and anxious? Understand what draws them to specific media and if it’s helping or hindering their development.
Content (What Are They Seeing): Focus on high-quality, age-appropriate media that sparks curiosity and learning, rather than passive consumption. Co-viewing and discussing content helps build media literacy and connection.
Calm (Emotional Regulation): Don’t rely on screens as a pacifier or way to manage big feelings. Try exploring coping skills like deep breathing or creative play.
Crowding Out (Lost Opportunities): Consider if screen time is replacing crucial activities like family meals, outdoor play, reading, or sleep (which is vital for teens).
Communication (Talk About It): Engage in ongoing, open conversations about what your children see online, listen to their experiences, and set clear family rules together, modeling good habits yourself to build responsibility.
