TABLE 2.

Strategies and recommendations for preventing screen media overuse in children/adolescents

Intervention Target		Strategies and Recommendations
Research
		• Implement robust design designs by (1) performing comprehensive assessments of screen use type, content, context, environment, parental mediation, and timing and (2) use measurement methods such as direct observation, usage monitoring programs, and reports from multiple sources (youths, parents, teachers, etc.)
		• Use large, population-based longitudinal studies to tease out directionality
		• Design randomized controlled trials examining effective intervention methods to reduce screen media overuse and promote sustained positive behavioral change in children/families
		• Control for potential confounders, including parent/family/peer network use of screen media, level of in-person social interaction, diet, exercise, and other activities of daily living
Policy and practice	Children and adolescents	• Reduce engagement in recreational sedentary screen time, and engage in alternate hobbies and activities such as exercise, reading, arts and crafts, and listening to music
		• Reduce media multitasking behaviors and use of social networking sites
		• Limit the use of screen media while in class, studying, or doing homework
		• Develop self-regulated rules/routines for screen media use that balance schoolwork with entertainment
	Parents and caregivers	• Develop and follow family media use plan (http://www.healthychildren.org/MediaUsePlan), placing consistent limits on the duration of screen media use and considering appropriate usage for each individual child
		• Designate media-free times (e.g., mealtimes, parent−child playtimes, an hour before bedtime)
		• Remove screen media devices, including TVs, computers, tablets, and smartphones, from children/adolescents’ bedrooms
		• Work with adolescents to develop consistent routines that limit screen media use and help them develop the ability, responsibility, and autonomy to self-regulate screen media use
		• Model healthy screen use by limiting parental screen media use
	Institutions	• Foster increased physical activity and reduced sedentary behavior in the home Health care
		• Ask parents/caregivers about their family’s screen media use, provide information about benefits and health risks of screen media use, and educate families on recommended use guidelines
		• Help parents/caregivers create screen media use guidelines to meet the individualized needs of each family
		• Assess children and adolescents for the duration, content, timing, and environment of screen media use during well-child visits, using standardized instruments
		• Develop research-informed updated screen media use guidelines, and disseminate information to educators/legislators Schools
		• Monitor and guide their students’ technology use in the classroom
		• Receive professional development and training to successfully implement technology use in the classroom
		• Designate media-free zones at schools, such as cafeterias and classrooms
		• Advocate for schools to sponsor screen-free days throughout the school year and develop media education programs
		• Collaborate with parent−teacher associations to encourage at-home guidance of appropriate screen media use Industry
		• Collaborate with educators, pediatricians, and developmental psychologists to create educational, high-quality, and age-appropriate content
		• Develop electronic monitoring programs and systems in screen media devices to help parents/caregivers limit children’s usage Government
		• Allocate federal and private funding for screen media use research
		• Fund intervention strategies and public health campaigns for children, families, and communities to promote healthy screen media use guidelines
		• Collaborate with the Department of Education for the development of media education curriculum in school settings