January 4, 2019

rcpch new guidance on screen time for children

Screen time is now an intrinsic part of most people’s lives in the UK, but campaigns have raised the question about whether aspects of it might be harmful – particularly for children.  But what does the evidence say?

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has now produced its first guidance on children’s screen time. Some of the authors of the report were invited to the SMC to discuss issues such as:

– what is the evidence on whether screen time is harmful to children’s physical health?

– what about mental health?

– how can we unpick whether any associations are causal or due to other factors?

– what is the evidence on whether there are beneficial effects of screen time?

– is it possible, or evidence-based, to suggest screen time limits?

– what can families and parents do if they are worried?

Speakers:

Prof Russell Viner, President, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

Dr Max Davie, Officer for Health Promotion, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health