Keeping Kids Healthy and Sane in a Digital World

Screen time can expose healthy kids to an increased risk of anxiety, depression, and learning disabilities

While a small amount of strictly managed screen time can be beneficial for children, uncontrolled screen time exposes them to mental and physical risk. pan xiaozhen/Unsplash

Smartphones, tablets, and video consoles can be addictive. They also interfere with sleep. They draw kids into an alternate universe, often distracting them from more productive—and healthier—real-world activities. And they are linked to anxiety and depression, learning disabilities, and obesity.

That’s according to a growing body of research emphasizing the physical and psychological dangers of heavy screen use.