Survey Supports Limits on Screen Time

Kids whose parents set consistent limits on screen time really do spend less time with TV and video games, a new survey finds. Researchers surveyed more than 7,400 children and their parents. The kids’ ages ranged from 9 to 15. The kids were asked about their daily screen time and what limits their parents set on it. Screen time includes TV, videos, video games and computer time not used for homework. Kids also were asked about exercise habits. The parents were asked about their screen-time rules and what they thought experts recommended. About 1 out of 4 kids had more daily screen time than the recommended limit of 1 to 2 hours. But this was less likely among children who said their parents set consistent rules on screen time. Kids who spent more time in exercise or sports also used less screen time. The journal Pediatrics published the study June 14.