With experts recommending no more than one hour of screen time a day for preschoolers, it may not just be kids throwing temper tantrums when they don't get to watch Bluey.

Parents may be stunned to know that zero screen time is recommended for those younger than 2.

Screen time refers to phones, laptops, TV, and iPads. And no matter how old you are, screens should be off at least 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime.

“It makes a huge difference in sleep patterns,” said Dr. Lawrence Ellis Monger, Jr., medical director at the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department. He urges residents to connect with a primary care provider, who can guide and advise, as well as refer patients to other resources, including dietitians or sleep specialists for any age.

As for kids, experts say they should be exploring their environments in three dimensions.

“When kids go to school, that (screen) time also counts,” said Kelly Gelske, an occupational therapist at University of Toledo who works with preschoolers in a special needs program.

Researchers have been able to detect brain differences in children via magnetic resonance imaging scans that reveal cortical thickness, which involves grey matter, and sulcal depth, which is the depth of “canyons” between brain folds.

Higher use of media resulted in lowered cortical thickness and sulcal depth. The scans found accelerated maturation in areas such as visual processing, but underdevelopment in language, reading, and social skills, including memory encoding, empathy, and understanding facial and emotional expressions.

“This suggests that relationships between higher media use and brain structure begin to manifest in early childhood and may become more extensive over time,” said Dr. John Hutton, who led a team of colleagues at Cincinnati Children's to study the scans from 52 healthy children, ages 3 to 5.

Studies are ongoing because technology and its use remain a relatively new phenomenon.

“The consistency of these brain findings involving young children and those involving teens suggests that there may be a cumulative impact of digital media use, which tends to increase with age,” Dr. Hutton said. “Thus, limiting screen time and encouraging healthy alternatives as early as possible is a sound strategy to help children grow up healthy, well-adjusted, and successful in school and life.”

Such organizations as the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry recommend no more than one hour of noneducational screen time on weekdays and no more than three hours on weekends for children ages 2 to 5.

Recommendations vary slightly from one association to another, but all suggest that screen time involves participation from a parent or care provider.

“It should be guided time,” said Ms. Gelske, noting that children should not be sent to bed with an iPad.

While studies delineate changes in the brain from too much use of screens, Ms. Gelske has seen firsthand what that means at home or in a preschool.

“Their attention skills decline,” she said.

Eye contact decreases. Near vision declines. Sleeping difficulties increase. Lack of movement may result in obesity or lack of fine motor skills. Language skills may not be optimal to the point that speech therapy is recommended.

“They are too busy interacting with some form of media to have those developmental activities that build those skills,” Ms. Gelske said.

Both Ms. Gelske and Sharnita Harris, clinical director of psychology at Nationwide Children's - Toledo, agree that any guidelines can be modified to individual children. Some children can process more screen time, some might need less.

“If a child is spending excessive amounts of time on screens, they are missing out on activities that promote their social skills,” Ms. Harris said. “Chit chat is hard if your child’s head is buried in a device.”

Then, there is the inevitable protest when it is time to put devices away. That tug of war between children and their parents is not helpful to anyone. Ms. Harris suggests setting a timer, so there is always an expectation that the time with screens is finite.

Both local experts suggest that media being used for younger children can be educational, but that an adult should help guide that interaction.

“Take that screen time and make it active and feel social,” Ms. Harris said.

And don't forget there is an actual, touchable world to explore.

Ms. Gelske says she is a big advocate of being outside and exploring nature, whether it be in the backyard, a park or by taking a walk. There is a world of games, puzzles, blocks, and forts to build — always accompanied by conversation that involves description, feelings, and conversation.

Ms. Harris says children should be singing, drawing, coloring, stringing beads, sharing, and creating friendships. She advises parents to provide a narration to activities so youngsters can learn to describe their own actions and that of others.

First Published March 16, 2025, 4:00 a.m.