(COLORADO SPRINGS) —Schools in Southern Colorado are implementing new cell phone policies as students return to class, which aim to address concerns over screen time and mental health.
The new policies, which vary from school to school, come amid growing awareness of the impact of excessive screen time on children’s social interactions and mental health. Children’s Hospital Colorado has been a strong advocate for these changes, citing studies that link more than three hours of daily social media use to increased risks of depression and anxiety among young people.
“I think the first thing that parents have to do is talk to their kids and understand what their kids want,” said Dr. Lauren Eckhart, Clinical Director for the Colorado Springs Division of the Pediatric Mental Health Institute. “And I think parents and caregivers have to have an understanding of what they think the healthy limits are.”
Experts say taking your expectations and your child’s wants and merging the two is key to setting a standard to which your child will agree.
Dr. Eckhart emphasized the importance of parents modeling healthy screen habits themselves. “As a parent, if we’re going to tell our kids they have to put down their phones, that means I shouldn’t have my phone at dinner and I shouldn’t have my phone at bedtime,” she said.
The studies referenced by Children’s Hospital Colorado found that teenagers spend an average of three and a half hours a day on social media alone. This level of usage is associated with a doubling in the risk of poor mental health outcomes.
Experts suggest creating a family plan to set expectations for internet use, including when and how devices can be used. This approach can help balance the benefits of social media, such as staying connected with friends, with the potential risks.
As schools in Southern Colorado adopt these new cell phone policies, parents and educators alike are encouraged to engage in open discussions about healthy screen time habits to support children’s well-being.
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