Quiz: Children and Screen Time

Recently I had the opportunity to give a presentation to a group of moms about screen time with their children.  A quiz was given to see what they already know.  Take the quiz below to check what you know!

1. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, what is the minimum age that a child should be before parents introduce screen time?
     a. Birth
     b. 6 Months
     c. 18 Months
     d. 24 Months

2.  Children are not impacted by TV that plays in the background.
     a. True
     b. False



3.  How long before bed should children stop screen time?
     a. They can fall asleep watching TV
     b. 30 Minutes
     c. 1 Hour
     d. 2 Hours

4.  It is important that while children participate in screen time, an adult is present and interacting with them.
     a. True
     b. False

5.  Children who watch a lot of television are more likely to:
     a. Have lower grades in school
     b. Read fewer books
     c. Exercise less
     d. Be overweight
     e. All of the above

6.  TV shows appropriate for a 2 year old are the same as a shows appropriate for a 5 year old.
     a. True
     b. False

7.  How big is the word gap for children in kindergarten that were born into low income families?
     a. 5 million words
     b. 15 million words
     c. 30 million words
     d. 45 million words


With all the technology at our fingertips, it can be easy for parents to just turn on the TV or hand

their children a tablet. However, it’s important to set limits and make sure the shows or activities your children are involved with are appropriate.

Here are a few resources to help you set guidelines for your children's relationship with the world of screens:

• CommonSenseMedia.org is a website you can use to help decide what movies, books, TV, games, apps, and websites are appropriate for your child based on their age.  Using this website will help you make sure what you are showing your child is developmentally appropriate for them.
• Zero to Three covers 5 myths about screen time, such as how your cell phone use could affect your child’s behavior.
• Zero to Three also answers a lot of frequently asked questions about children and screen time.  There are tips, like how to wean a child who is addicted to screens, media use guidelines when you have children of different ages, and more.

Now, let’s see how you did on your quiz….
1.  c
2.  b
3.  d
4.  a
5.  e
6.  b
7.  c

How’d you do? The world of media can be difficult to navigate as a parent, so make sure to utilize the resources out there to help you make the best choice for your child!