Date:25/04/19
The World Health Organization has weighed in on children’s screen time for the first time ever — and the upshot is that parents need to power down.
The WHO guidelines released Wednesday say children under 2 should not be exposed to any screen time at all.
Older tots aged between 2 and 5 should also be limited to no more than an hour of sedentary screen time each day.
Instead of plonking kids in front of the TV or an iPad, the UN health agency suggests parents “engage in reading and storytelling.”
Not ideal if you’re trying to quell your little tyrants on a long flight or at a restaurant.
The guidelines were developed as part of broader guidance on physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep for children under 5.
Dr. Fiona Bull, the report’s chairperson, said the guidelines would “help prevent childhood obesity and associated diseases later in life.”
“Improving physical activity, reducing sedentary time and ensuring quality sleep in young children will improve their physical, mental health and wellbeing,” Bull said in a press release.
But pediatric experts dismissed the WHO report, saying there is no evidence screen use is harmful for children in itself.
“Our research has shown that currently there is not strong enough evidence to support the setting of screen time limits,” Dr. Max Davie, officer for health improvement at Britain’s Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, told the Associated Press.
“The restricted screen time limits suggested by WHO do not seem proportionate to the potential harm,” he said.
But the new WHO guidelines are consistent with advice from other organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, which recommends children younger than 18 months also avoid screens.
WHO releases guidelines on screen time for children
The World Health Organization has weighed in on children’s screen time for the first time ever — and the upshot is that parents need to power down.The WHO guidelines released Wednesday say children under 2 should not be exposed to any screen time at all.
Older tots aged between 2 and 5 should also be limited to no more than an hour of sedentary screen time each day.
Instead of plonking kids in front of the TV or an iPad, the UN health agency suggests parents “engage in reading and storytelling.”
Not ideal if you’re trying to quell your little tyrants on a long flight or at a restaurant.
The guidelines were developed as part of broader guidance on physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep for children under 5.
Dr. Fiona Bull, the report’s chairperson, said the guidelines would “help prevent childhood obesity and associated diseases later in life.”
“Improving physical activity, reducing sedentary time and ensuring quality sleep in young children will improve their physical, mental health and wellbeing,” Bull said in a press release.
But pediatric experts dismissed the WHO report, saying there is no evidence screen use is harmful for children in itself.
“Our research has shown that currently there is not strong enough evidence to support the setting of screen time limits,” Dr. Max Davie, officer for health improvement at Britain’s Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, told the Associated Press.
“The restricted screen time limits suggested by WHO do not seem proportionate to the potential harm,” he said.
But the new WHO guidelines are consistent with advice from other organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, which recommends children younger than 18 months also avoid screens.
Views: 340
©ictnews.az. All rights reserved.
Similar news
- Azerbaijani project to monitor disease via mobile phones
- Innovative educational system to be improved under presidential decree
- NTRC prolongs license of two TV and radio organizations for 6 years
- Azerbaijan establishes e-registry for medicines
- Azerbaijani museum introduces e-guide
- Nar Mobile opens “Nar Dunyasi” sales and service center in Siyazan city
- International conference on custom electronic services held in Baku
- OIC secretary general to attend COMSTECH meeting in Baku
- Azerbaijan develops earthquake warning system
- New law to regulate transition to digital broadcasting in Azerbaijan
- Azerbaijani State Social Protection Fund introduces electronic digital signature
- Intellectual traffic management system in Baku to be commissioned in December
- Tax Ministry of Azerbaijan started receiving video-addresses
- World Bank recommends Azerbaijan to speed up e-service introduction in real estate
- Azerbaijan to shift to electronic registration of real estate
