Swedish authorities published new recommendations on children’s screen time on Monday, September 2.
Children under the age of two should not be exposed to screens, Swedish authorities urged on Monday as they published new recommendations on children’s screen time.
Children under two should be kept away from all screens, the Public Health Agency said in a statement. Between the ages of two and five, screen time should be limited to one hour per day, and for children aged six to 12, it should be no more than one to two hours. Adolescents aged 13 to 18 should spend no more than two to three hours per day on a screen, the agency said.
No screens in the rooms
“For too long, smartphones and other screens have been allowed to enter every aspect of our children’s lives,” Public Health Minister Jakob Forssmed told reporters.
Teenagers aged 13 to 16 spend an average of six and a half hours a day in front of a screen, outside of school hours, he noted. This leaves “little time for group activities, physical activity and adequate sleep”, added the minister, who deplored a “sleep crisis” in Sweden, noting that more than half of high school students aged 15/16 were not getting enough sleep.
The public health agency also recommends cutting out screens before bed and keeping tablets and smartphones out of children’s bedrooms at night. It cites studies showing that excessive screen time can impair sleep, lead to depressive symptoms and a loss of body awareness.
The Swedish government recently indicated that it was considering banning smartphones in primary schools.
Related News :