Between cell phones and iPads, flatscreen TVs and video games, it can be difficult to imagine a world today without screens. But according to the experts, that’s exactly the kind of world that developing children need. At least, from time to time.
Studies have repeatedly shown that excess screen time in early childhood can have several negative effects, ranging from delays in social skills and speech to difficulties focusing and even sleeping, which further delays brain development. Excessive screen time has also been linked to obesity, depression, anxiety, aggressive behavior and lower cognitive abilities and academic performance.
This is why Sarasota Memorial and First 1,000 Days Suncoast—a local nonprofit dedicated to increasing support for families and babies—are encouraging families to practice going (partially) screen-free with Screen-Free Week, held every year in the first week of May. This doesn’t mean banning all screens all the time, but rather actively making time for the whole family to get away from their screens and engage the world and each other.
“When kids have time to play freely, they’re not just having fun; they’re exploring, being creative, learning how to problem-solve, navigating situations, building confidence and learning independence,” says Janice Houchins, MSW, LCSW, Sarasota Memorial’s program coordinator working with First 1,000 Days Suncoast.
“These are essential skills that will serve them well into adulthood.”
How Children Benefit From Screen-Free Time
Spending time away from the screen can have several benefits for young children and their developing brains, including:
- Improved social skills
- Improved focus and self-regulation
- Enhanced critical thinking
- Greater awareness
- Greater creativity
- Increased physical activity
- Better sleep
- Stronger family bonds
And all it takes is one hour a day, away from the screen and engaging the world.
Screen-Free Activities for the Whole Family
- Playing a board game
- Going for a walk/hike
- Visiting the local playground or park
- Going to the beach
- Athletics & Sports
- Arts & Crafts
- Coloring books
- Sidewalk chalk – games and drawing
- Cooking/baking
- Gardening
- Just laying on your back, looking at the clouds, and talking with the people you love
Going Beyond Screen-Free Week
The real goal of Screen-Free Week is to make screen-free time a natural and regular part of daily life for the family, so children and parents benefit year-round. What this looks like will vary from family to family.
Try setting aside a little time each day for screen-free activities, like a family board game or a quiet walk outside. Even an hour a day makes a big difference. If a daily schedule of screen-free time won’t work, try designating a particular weekend afternoon or morning as weekly screen-free time for the family, and go for a picnic or play games in the park.
The finer details don’t matter, as long as parents and children are regularly unplugging, experiencing the world around them, and being a family together.
More Resources
To learn more about community resources and nonprofits working with SMH, click here.
To learn more about pediatric services at Sarasota Memorial, click here.
To learn more about Screen-Free Week, click here.
To learn more about First 1,000 Days Suncoast, click here.
Related Reading
Treating the Whole Person: Connecting Patients with Community Resources
How Social Care Improves Maternal Health Outcomes: Sarasota Memorial and First 1,000 Days
SMH/Unite Us Partnership Results in 70% Reduction in Post-Partum Readmission
Written by Sarasota Memorial copywriter Philip Lederer, MA, who crafts a variety of external communications for the healthcare system. SMH’s in-house wordsmith, Lederer earned his Master’s degree in Public Administration and Political Philosophy from Morehead State University, KY, and sits in front of a screen all day.