{"id":69035,"date":"2023-07-19T00:34:21","date_gmt":"2023-07-19T04:34:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/world.edu\/?p=69035"},"modified":"2023-07-19T00:34:21","modified_gmt":"2023-07-19T04:34:21","slug":"if-your-kid-is-home-sick-from-school-is-unlimited-screen-time-ok","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/if-your-kid-is-home-sick-from-school-is-unlimited-screen-time-ok\/","title":{"rendered":"If your kid is home sick from school, is unlimited screen time OK?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Not so long ago, if a child was home sick from school, the main screen-based entertainment was daytime television. The options were limited to The Price is Right or reruns of Home and Away.<\/p>\n

Fast forward to the present day and we have multiple streaming services, tablets, smartphones, and an endless reservoir of content made specifically to captivate children\u2019s attention. Managing a child\u2019s screen time when they\u2019re home sick from school has taken on a whole new dimension.<\/p>\n

For many parents, the challenge of juggling work and caring for a sick child at home inevitably leads to more TV or iPad. The digital world offers a convenient solution to keep children occupied and, to an extent, comforted.<\/p>\n

But should being unwell automatically equate to increased or even unlimited screen time?<\/p>\n

Illness should not automatically equal unlimited screens<\/strong><\/h4>\n

We are child development researchers specialising in child-technology interaction and have spent a lot of time thinking about this question. The answer depends on several factors and understanding these elements can help parents manage their child\u2019s screen time effectively and healthily.<\/p>\n

The comfort and distraction derived from favourite digital activities \u2013 whether it be episodes of Bluey, video games, YouTube videos, or even chatting to friends on social media \u2013 might alleviate the discomfort of being unwell. Screen use has been linked to\u00a0reducing children\u2019s anxiety and pain levels<\/a>\u00a0during painful procedures in the hospital.<\/p>\n

Still, we should also try to avoid a pattern where every minor illness is seen as a gateway to endless screen time. Over time, this could lead to a situation where children might exaggerate or even feign symptoms of illness to gain extra screen time.<\/p>\n

This may also inadvertently teach children that digital consumption is the go-to method for coping with illness-related discomfort or boredom, which could limit their ability to develop healthier\u00a0coping skills<\/a>.\u00a0Recent research<\/a>\u00a0also suggests using technology to calm young children too frequently might be linked to higher levels of\u00a0emotional dysregulation<\/a>\u00a0(such as angry outbursts).<\/p>\n

How old is your child?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

But a child\u2019s age should also be considered. The Australian\u00a0screen time guidelines<\/a>\u00a0for young children and toddlers are less than those for older children.<\/p>\n

This means more guidance and support is needed to manage younger children\u2019s use of screens.<\/p>\n

But older children also need to have boundaries. Recent research suggests screen use triggers the\u00a0release of dopamine<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 which makes you seek out or want to keep doing something \u2013 which helps explain why it can be so hard to disengage. There are also continued concerns about the\u00a0mental health impacts<\/a>\u00a0of young people\u2019s social media use.<\/p>\n

How sick is your child?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The type of illness also plays a crucial role. Some illnesses, such as high fever or flu, necessitate\u00a0ample rest<\/a>\u00a0to aid recovery.<\/p>\n

Good quality sleep\u00a0boosts the immune system<\/a>\u00a0helping fight off the infection more efficiently.<\/p>\n

But illnesses like mild colds or conjunctivitis may not require as much additional rest, although a reasonable amount of downtime is generally beneficial.<\/p>\n

In both scenarios, it\u2019s important to monitor screen time, especially before bedtime. The stimulating effects of\u00a0screen light<\/a>\u00a0can disrupt a child\u2019s sleep, hindering the rest and recovery process.<\/p>\n

What are the pre-existing rules in your house?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

If your house already has screen time rules for non-school days (such as extra time on weekends or holidays), these can be applied or slightly relaxed when a child is home sick.<\/p>\n

Having a baseline \u2013 even if it is more generous \u2013 makes some screen time limits during a sick day an expected norm. Maintaining these rules can help prevent a free-for-all scenario, which could complicate matters once the child recovers and needs to readjust to their regular schedule.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, if there are no pre-existing rules for non-school days, introducing snap strict screen time regulations when a child is unwell may not be the best approach. Doing so could add an additional layer of stress for the child, who is already not feeling sick.<\/p>\n

Instead, during these short-term illness periods, parents may choose to be more lenient with screen time, focusing on helping their child recover. Consider sitting down with your child and creating a list of other activities or possibilities that centre on rest and recuperation. Reading, playing with their pet, puzzles, art can all features on these lists.<\/p>\n

Keep an eye on things<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Also, be sure to monitor what children are doing on their screens. Consider supporting decisions that help them rest and then switch off after an agreed period. For example, it might be easier to relax while watching a favourite movie rather than continuously watching new YouTube videos that change every five minutes.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also of course essential to distinguish between entertainment screen use and schoolwork that must be completed on a computer or tablet.<\/p>\n

Lastly, in full disclosure, one of the authors was sick with a stomach virus while working on this piece. So they also watched a lot of comfort television and scrolled through Twitter. We shouldn\u2019t expect children to be better patients than adults.<\/p>\n

Author Bios:<\/strong> Jordy Kaufman is an Associate Professor, atSwinburne University of Technology and Jennifer M. Zosh is a Professor of Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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Fast forward to the present day and we have multiple streaming services, tablets, smartphones, and an endless reservoir of content made […]\n… learn more→<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[95],"tags":[434530],"coauthors":[11733],"class_list":["post-69035","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-lifestyle","tag-unlimited-screentime"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nIf your kid is home sick from school, is unlimited screen time OK? - World leading higher education information and services<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/world.edu\/if-your-kid-is-home-sick-from-school-is-unlimited-screen-time-ok\/\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"If your kid is home sick from school, is unlimited screen time OK? - World leading higher education information and services\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Not so long ago, if a child was home sick from school, the main screen-based entertainment was daytime television. 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