Lucknow Press
Sweden is now telling parents not to show mobile phones or TV to their children under two years of age, as it is not good for children to spend too much time in front of the screen. According to the country’s health department, young children should be kept completely away from digital media and TV, as it can harm their physical and mental health.
These recommendations are not just for young children; the Swedish government wants to reduce screen time for children of all ages and make rules about how much time children and teenagers should spend in front of screens.
Made new rules
Sweden’s health department has made new rules, which say that children between two and five years of age should not spend more than one hour in front of the screen every day. Children between six and twelve years of age should not spend more than one to two hours in front of the screen every day. Children between thirteen and eighteen years of age should not spend more than two to three hours in front of the screen every day, says Fortune magazine.
Do not watch TV at night
The Swedish government says that these new rules have been made to make young people spend less time in front of the screen. These rules are not just about reducing screen time, but also about changing habits. The health department is advising parents not to show mobile or TV to children before sleeping and to remove mobile and tablet from children’s room at night, so that they can get good sleep.
“For a long time now, smartphones and other gadgets have become part of our children’s lives,” said Sweden’s Health Minister Jakob Forsmed. Forsmed also shared some worrying statistics: In Sweden, children between the ages of 13 and 16 spend six and a half hours a day watching mobile phones or TV after school. According to Forsmed, spending so much time in front of the screen leaves children with very little time to spend with family, play, and get a good night’s sleep.
