Guiding Your Children in the Era of YouTube and Netflix

The era of YouTube, Netflix, and social media is very exciting for parents with children who are already young adults. There is an unbelievable variety of information and entertainment that’s just a few clicks away.

- Allan R. Dionisio. MD and Maribel Sison- Dionisio. MA

However, for parents with young children aged zero to twelve, or parents with teens aged thirteen to nineteen, this era can pose a real challenge. Too much screen time is associated with decreased attention span, increased depression, poorer grades, increased obesity, and greater negativity in children. Internet addiction has already been identified as a real clinical condition needing treatment. Parents have to help their children manage the use of the Internet.

For young children aged zero to two, experts like Dr. Leonardo Leonides, assistant clinical professor in pediatrics at the Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, has advised the following limits on screen time:

For ages zero to two years: no screen time at all For ages two to five years: one hour of screen time a day.