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Protecting children from screens: Arcom's advice and best practices for parents
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Children, especially toddlers, are spending more and more time in front of screens. Find out more about Arcom's advice and tools for protecting children from screens.
According to a study published on Wednesday April 12 by Santé publique France, a French two-year-old spends an average of 56 minutes a day in front of a screen (television, tablet, smartphone, etc.). The study also shows that only 49.7% of parents follow the notice of one hour of screen time per day for 3-year-olds.
Browse the full Santé publique France study here.
Every year, Arcom raises public awareness of the risks associated with exposure to screens for children under 3, and also gives advice on screen use for older children. The Authority supervises the diffusion of content, acts regularly and directly with the players concerned, and supports parents in their children's use of screens.
Children and screens: advice from Arcom
Television is not recommended for children under 3. Arcom prohibits publishers established in France from showing or promoting, on their channels or in any other medium, programs specifically aimed at children under three.
Arcom tips
The following advice applies equally to television, computers, tablets and cell phones.
- Avoid putting the TV in the child's room. This isolates him from family life and prevents you from knowing what he's watching.
- Whenever possible, try to be present at your child's side when he watches images on screen.
- Avoid excessive "zapping" from one program to another. Decide with your child (when he or she is old enough) on a specific, limited time for watching TV, and encourage him or her to broadcast a program in its entirety rather than cutting out the story.
- Take care to ensure your child's viewing comfort (lighting and distance).
- Don't forget to set aside screen-free family time: gaming, physical activities, meals, discussions, outings, etc.
Keep your child away from screens (TV, tablets and smartphones). Interaction with the world around them is essential to their development (language, motor skills, etc.).
According to Arcom, the French Ministry of Health and a number of experts, television is not suitable for children under 3 years of age, as it can hinder their development, even when channels are specifically aimed at them.
Before the age of 3, , children build themselves by acting on the world: television risks locking them into a passive spectator status at a time when they need to learn to become actors in the world around them.
There are several stages in the development of children under the age of three:
- At first, babies are attracted by everything that moves,
- then they discover that they can act on their environment
- as soon as their motor skills permit, they can point to things and touch them
- as of nine months, he imitates without understanding what he sees.
- Around the age of one and a half or two, he puts words to things and understands basic expressions.
Television is often thought to have a calming effect on toddlers. However, the baby's gaze is caught by the stream of images and sounds coming from the screen that he or she doesn't understand, which can give the illusion of a calming effect. However, this calm is often followed by misunderstood agitation, leading parents to increase their exposure to television, which in turn risks accentuating its harmful effect on the child.
Choose suitable programs for a limited time. Excessive screen consumption can lead to sleep, vision and concentration problems.
As of age 3, adapted programs can stimulate certain abilities, such as statement of case or alphabet recognition. But beware of duration: 10 minutes spent in front of the TV represents a high concentration time for a youngster.
It's advisable to keep sessions short, with the possibility of watching the same program several times to understand the action and intentions of the characters... and thus avoid "zapping" between several programs!
Between the ages of 3 and 6, children react with their own sensitivity. You need to be particularly vigilant about what they watch, as they don't have any drop of perspective. They won't be able to tell the difference between drama and reality, and will regard the frightening images they see as real, without having the words to express their feelings. That's why it's so important to talk to your child.
Help your child discover screens.
As of the age of 6, children are able to distinguish between what is real and what is not. They begin to have some experience of images, and can analyze and comment on them. They may also want to imitate what they've seen, which is why it's important to explain to them that they shouldn't reproduce what they see on TV, and to respect their sensibilities by favoring programmes for younger viewers.
Up to the age of 8, only programmes for younger viewers are suitable (animation, children's films, educational programs or documentaries). It's important to limit the length of your child's viewing sessions, and to work with him or her to choose the programs he or she will watch, so that he or she can learn to find his or her way around the program supply.
Between the ages of 8 and 10, give preference to programmes for younger viewers and programmes for the general public, and try to watch television with your child.
Between the ages of 10 and 12, children begin to want more autonomous access to images and to diversify the programs they watch.
In adolescence, they may want to confront certain violent content, even if they are not emotionally capable of doing so. Even at this age, and despite the ease with which teenagers can access images, it's important to maintain a dialogue with them about what they watch or listen to, and to continue teaching them to choose what suits their tastes and sensibilities.
Whatever your child's age
- for better attention at school, avoid screens in the morning
- for more convivial meals, opt for screen-free meals
- for restful sleep, avoid screens before bedtime and in the bedroom
"You have to learn how to use screens
The prevention messages in Arcom's "Children and Screens" campaign apply to the consumption of audio and video content, whatever the medium (television, tablet, smartphone, etc.). Below, Arcom provides a leaflet with practical advice on how to support children's family and educational circles in their use of screens.
Download below Arcom's leaflet on "Learning to use screens".