Bonding, routines key to reducing screen time: Expert

Noted child psychiatrist Dr. Shekhar Seshadri, and NIMHANS former director, while delivering a keynote address at a workshop “Empowering Women: Parenting in a Digital World” on Monday, organised by the GITAM Women Empowerment Cell said that emotional bonding between parents and children plays a crucial role in reducing excessive mobile screen time.

Citing expert recommendations, he said that children below 2 years should not be exposed to screens, children between 24–59 months should have no more than one hour of supervised screen time per day, and screen exposure for children aged 7–12 years should be limited to less than two hours per day.

Dr. Seshadri said that instead of imposing strict restrictions on screen usage, parents should create meaningful alternatives that naturally reduce dependency on digital devices. He encouraged parents to promote outdoor physical activities, adequate sleep, family and peer interaction, focused study time, and skill development all of which contribute to the holistic health and development of children and adolescents.

He further advised parents to communicate respectfully with their children, honour their feelings and emotions, and patiently explain the consequences of continuous screen attachment. He noted that children around three years of age have strong grasping power, and suggested parents to actively engage with them through storytelling, reading poems, and take up nature-based activities such as walking in parks and discussing the environment. Such practices, he said, significantly enhance children’s social and emotional learning.