New Zealand issues new recommendations for screen time in school, emphasising quality over quantity
- Researchers aim to balance the health risks of using screens with the educational benefits of digital technology
Children in New Zealand spend a lot of time staring at their screens. Photo: Shutterstock Data indicates that New Zealand is among the countries where children are spending the most time online worldwide. The country has announced new norms to help balance the health risks of screen use with the educational benefits of digital technology in school.
For all age groups, screen use in schools should be purposeful, intentional, and backed by evidence, according to the guidelines that have been endorsed by the New Zealand Paediatric Society and published on its website.
The recommendations offer practical advice for different age groups to mitigate risks and promote healthier screen behaviours. Use of smartphones and watches should be limited in class, not only to reduce distractions, but also for well-being.
For young children, up to six years, the advice is minimal screen use, with no screens for under two-year-olds. For six to 12-year-olds, screen use for learning is recommended for no more than a third of the school day, with more limited use for younger students. The guidelines also recommend a gradual increase reflecting age or development, unless required for students with special learning needs.
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From 13 to 18 years, the emphasis is on encouraging intentional and balanced screen use, with regular eye breaks and limitations on headphone or earbud use.
While the recommended amount of screen time at school increases incrementally with each age group, the quality of screen-based learning was more important than the quantity when it comes to mental health and cognition, said an editorial of the New Zealand Medical Journal.
Excessive screen time has been linked with health issues, including dry eye, short-sightedness, loss of physical fitness, noise-induced hearing loss and pain syndromes, said lead author Julie Cullen, a paediatric physiotherapist and screen researcher at the University of Auckland.
New Zealand has recreational screen guidelines, but there was no guidance for use of digital technologies in educational settings, Cullen said, adding the United Nations has recently called for urgent discussion and regulation of digitisation of education.