The Conversation - Squash the screen time guilt

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As a parent, I can feel my heart sink when I realize my kids’ attention has been locked onto their screens for, well, let’s just say longer than I’d like.

But maybe my guilt is a bigger problem than the screen time itself, according to Robin Nabi. She’s a professor of communication at University of California, Santa Barbara, who researches how people use media.

Yes, Nabi writes, screen time can get out of hand. But it can also be a great stress reliever, helping people of all ages decompress. Her advice to parents is to check whether any screen time guilt you’re experiencing is due to real negative consequences from marathon iPad sessions – or just an internalized expectation that “good” parents limit their kids’ screen time. Then see if you can squash any unnecessary guilt, because that’s what “sets up tension that can be unhealthy for both parents and kids.”

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Maggie Villiger

Senior Science + Technology Editor

Screen time can be a major point of contention for parents and children. Fertnig/E+ via Getty Images

Guilt over kids’ screen time is common, uncomfortable and can stress family relationships − but it can have a silver lining

Robin Nabi, University of California, Santa Barbara

Screen use has a PR problem, and many parents feel guilty about how much time they and their children spend on it. Examining that guilt could help you make changes and improve your family dynamics.

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