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Screen Time Smarts: Helping Kids Thrive in a Connected World

In today's fast-changing digital landscape, parents face a critical challenge: how to help children develop healthy relationships with technology. The key isn't about eliminating screens completely, but creating meaningful connections that support growth and learning.

September 17, 2025

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Understanding Screen Time's Real Impact

Experts agree that not all screen time is created equal. Dr. Ali Shehata, a family medicine physician, emphasizes that children under 18 months should avoid screens entirely. Why? Because young brains need real-world interactions to develop critical skills.

The Quality Matters Most

Amy Dykstra, a registered psychologist, highlights that content matters more than total screen time. Fast-paced shows with rapid scene changes can negatively impact attention and social skills. Instead, parents should:

  • Choose slow-paced, educational content

  • Watch together when possible

  • Limit overall screen exposure

  • Create meaningful interactions

Real-World Alternatives to ScreensBefore age 13, children are still building:

Kids learn best through hands-on experiences. Try these screen-free activities:

  1. Cooking together

  2. Gardening

  3. Building with blocks or Legos

  4. Exploring nature

  5. Creating art projects

Research Reveals Important Insights

A Drexel University study found startling connections between early screen time and child development:

  • By 12 months, kids are 105% more likely to develop sensory processing issues with screen exposure

  • Each additional hour of screen time increases developmental risks

Practical Tips for Parents

  • Set clear boundaries

  • Create screen-free zones

  • Model healthy technology use

  • Engage in interactive play

  • Communicate openly about digital experiences

Raising Confident, Connected Kids

Technology isn't the enemy - it's about balance and intention. Parents play the most important role in helping children navigate digital experiences safely and positively.

Your Next Step: Free Parenting Support

Want to learn more about raising confident, resilient kids in a digital world? Join the FREE 9 Day Kidnections Mindset Makeover!

Discover proven strategies to:

  • Build stronger family connections

  • Support healthy emotional development

  • Create positive technology habits

Sign up now at https://www.kidnections.org/ and transform your parenting approach today!

Remember: You're not just managing screen time - you're building your child's future.

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Bullet Points:

  • The University of Groningen researchers have developed an AI sarcasm detector for better understanding human communication.

  • The AI training involved analyzing multi-modal data from U.S. sitcoms, initially achieving 75% accuracy in detecting sarcasm.

  • Further improvements were made by adding synthetic data to the training set, enhancing the AI's detection capability.

  • This technology could improve human-AI interactions and aid in moderating online content by identifying negative or potentially harmful language.