The success rate of programs to reduce children’s screen time depends on how much green space they have around their homes. It was discovered by a research group in the United States that wanted to determine why previous studies had found different success rates depending on children’s ethnic background. Unfair differences in access to green spaces may explain why measures to reduce screen time vary in effectiveness depending on ethnic group, study leader Ian-Marshall Lang summarizes. If you want to fight disparities in screen time, you need to keep this finding in mind.
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How University of Michigan SummaryNearly two-thirds of children and teens in the U.S. have more than the recommended two hours of screen time per day. Reduction programs aim to provide information to parents or enable children to engage in physical activity. Now new studies show that scaling up such programs may not be effective at all when children live in areas that don’t support behavior change at all. Instead, it can be used as an evidence-based basis for programs that aim, for example, to ensure that everyone in a city in the United States has access to a high-quality park for walking. Maximum 10 minutes is required.
Prolonged screen time isn’t just a big issue among children and youth in the United States. Most parents in this country also have poor judgment about this. For example, spending too much time in front of screens can deprive children of valuable moments for language development. Researchers have already discovered that parents can reduce their children’s screen time by following just a few rules. The study was published in the journal Health and Place Von Lange and her team now suggest that they also need support from society. Greater easily accessible green spaces will not only be beneficial for children.
(mho)
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