Top federal health officials are warning that excessive screen time can trigger severe neurocognitive delays in young children, impacting attention spans, memory, and language skills. Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos, interim surgeon general and principal deputy assistant secretary of health, emphasized the importance of establishing boundaries and modeling healthy screen habits for children.
Guidelines for Parents
The U.S. Surgeon General’s Office has released a framework known as the ‘5 Ds’ to help parents combat screen addiction. This includes setting clear, age-appropriate rules regarding when, where, and how long screens can be used throughout the day. Parents are also encouraged to model healthy screen habits themselves and engage their children in hands-on activities, such as arts and crafts or preparing a healthy meal together.
Dr. Haridopolos recommended building regular screen-free periods into daily routines, including during meals, car rides, and before bedtime. She also suggested putting off children’s access to screens whenever possible, such as by requiring phones and other mobile devices to be charged overnight in a shared household space.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
