{"id":581795,"date":"2026-08-11T21:32:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T21:32:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/581795\/"},"modified":"2026-08-11T21:32:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T21:32:10","slug":"parents-stress-leads-to-more-screen-time-for-kids-study-finds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/581795\/","title":{"rendered":"Parents’ Stress Leads to More Screen Time for Kids, Study Finds"},"content":{"rendered":"

Parents who are stressed out are more likely to rely on screens and devices to keep their kids busy or calm \u2014 and less likely to enforce screen time limits. That\u2019s the takeaway from a new screen time study<\/a> from Florida International University\u2019s Center for Children and Families. Researchers said the effects were more than a child acting out.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Screen time is one way to keep kids busy, especially when school\u2019s out. The time spent on tablets<\/a> and laptops<\/a> can be a break for parents to complete tasks or take a break. But readjusting to early mornings, class time and homework can be a big shift for both parents and kids when school is back in session.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Jeff Temple, a professor and psychologist with UTHealth Houston, who was not affiliated with the FIU study, agrees. \u201cFor many families, screens become one of many tools that help everyone get through the day \u2013 and that\u2019s mostly OK,\u201d he told CNET. \u201cThe challenge comes when the structure of summer doesn\u2019t transition back to the structure of the school year.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Screen time isn\u2019t a parenting failure, but experts have concerns and recommendations to help families strike a healthy balance for the back-to-school season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Screen time is determined by parents\u2019 stress<\/p>\n

FIU\u2019s study evaluated 822 caregivers of children ages 4 to 8 through online surveys on the child\u2019s behaviors, parenting stress and screen time strategies. The findings show that parents opt for more screen time when a child\u2019s behavior seems difficult and how much time is usually less enforced.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Shayl Griffith, an assistant professor in FIU\u2019s Department of Counseling, Recreation and School Psychology and senior author of the study, said in a news release<\/a> that parents shouldn\u2019t be afraid to ask for help. The study\u2019s recommendation is to focus on screen time and media that are \u201cmeaningful, engaging and appropriate for their child\u2019s age.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen caregivers have the resources they need, they are better able to set consistent boundaries and engage with their children in ways that promote healthy development,\u201d Griffith said.<\/p>\n

The fine line between digital media discipline and disruption<\/p>\n

Youth screen time is a growing concern. In January, the American Academy of Pediatrics published findings<\/a> on correlations between digital media use and age-related development to help determine screen time rules for your child and monitor behavior.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Toddlers and kindergarteners who use digital media for high-quality educational content can benefit from good social behaviors and language \u2014 especially when a caregiver is viewing the screen and interacting with the child. However, young children who use tablets for hours, but the AAP says too much screen time is linked to angry outbursts.<\/p>\n

School-aged children, ages 6 to 12, can benefit from thoughtful educational digital media in moderation, the AAP study found. But again, there are risks. Too much media use can lead to lower academic achievement, attention control and cognition. Some media can be problematic for kids, like apps encouraging purchases, those focused on gaming with not much educational value and content that is dangerous or risky. And there\u2019s a big callout included in the list: school devices that give access to \u201cdistracting video games, videos and other platforms.\u201d<\/p>\n

Managing stress, school and screen time is tricky<\/p>\n

With summer wrapping up and school approaching, the big question is: How should stressed parents think about screen time? School may be the solution.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cSchool can help provide a reprieve for families who do not have access to childcare in the summertime months and serve as a helpful jumping-off point to re-evaluate digital media habits, given the change in routine already,\u201d said Dr. Tiffany Munzer, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Michigan Medical School. It can also mean more time for in-person interactions, which is important for social connection, Munzer added.\u00a0<\/p>\n

However, making the switch from summer to back-to-school season<\/a> can be challenging. And adjusting screen time while managing life stresses may not be easy. Munzer recommends making incremental changes. For example, if your child loves watching do-it-yourself videos, find a way to recreate what they\u2019re seeing, Munzer said. Or if digital media is a way to calm kids, look for alternative activities such as reading or walking, Munzer added.<\/p>\n

Jason Nagata, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, said the back-to-school season is a good time to revisit family screen time rules and routines.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cRather than simply trying to return to an old set of rules, families can consider what makes sense for the child\u2019s current age, developmental stage, school schedule and use of devices for schoolwork and communication,\u201d said Nagata. \u201cA family media plan should be dynamic; it may reasonably look different during the school year than during summer or holidays, and on weekdays compared with weekends.\u201d<\/p>\n

The AAP recommends creating a Family Media Plan<\/a> based on your family\u2019s needs. The plan is an agreement that lets you prioritize healthy, safe and consistent screen time boundaries. That includes creating a list of approved media kids can choose from, a schedule of screen-free time, how to choose good media content and outlets for your family.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Experts also recommend the AAP\u2019s 5 C\u2019s of Media Use<\/a>, tailored to your child\u2019s age. The five C\u2019s are Child, Content, Calm, Crowing Out and Communication. They can help you set and communicate screen time guidelines based on your child, their emotions, the content and how it affects them. That may not help the stress that parents face, but it could help regulate your child\u2019s screen time without guilt.<\/p>\n

Nagata encourages parents to pay attention to their children\u2019s time and relationship with screen time. Look out for warning signs like difficulty cutting back on screen time despite trying, becoming preoccupied with social media or a phone, experiencing conflict because of screen use and using screens to escape problems. And pay attention to see if screen use is interfering with sleep, school relationships or other activities so you can make more adjustments sooner.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Dashia\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDashia is the consumer insights editor for CNET. She specializes in data-driven analysis and news at the intersection of tech, personal finance and consumer sentiment. Dashia investigates economic shifts and everyday challenges to help readers make well-informed decisions, and she covers a range of topics, including technology, security, energy and money. Dashia graduated from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She loves baking, teaching spinning and spending time with her family.
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