This is the All Pro Dad podcast, where in each episode, dads of all ages dive into just one question. Today, we ask, “Is my kid addicted to screen time?”

Smartphones. Tablets. TVs. Most kids in the United States have access to some kind of device with a screen, and it’s almost certain they are using it daily. Ted Lowe, Buck Buchanan, and Reggie Lewis discuss the gravitational pull of technology and how screens are taking over our homes.

Even if you’ve successfully limited screen time with your kids, the stats on tech use are incredible. In his book The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt shares this eye-opening data about kids’ growing technology addiction:

1. 1. American children between age 8 and 12 view a screen for nearly five hours per day on average.

2. Teens’ screen time exceeds seven hours per day on average.
3. Over 70% of teens say they don’t get the recommended amount of sleep due to screen usage.
4. Attention spans have decreased in children by nearly 50% during the last 15 years due partly to managing content and notifications on screens.
5. 72% of parents polled expressed concern about their children’s screen time, but many feel ill-equipped to manage it effectively.

Technology has the same effect as cocaine on the portion of the brain that impacts function and impulse control. Screen time is highly addictive. How do we handle this growing technology addiction as parents?

Here are a few tips from The Anxious Generation:

1. 1. Have open communication.
2. 2. Set clear screen time limits.
3. 3. Create tech-free zones and times.
4. 4. Model healthy tech use.
5. 5. Educate about digital citizenship.
6. 6. Monitor online activity.
7. 7. Support mental health.

Today’s Pro Move:
Choose one of Dr. Haidt’s tips, and have a conversation with your kid.