Published on December 12, 2012 at 12:24 PM
• Encourage group play - Interacting as part of a group is important for the development of social and interpersonal skills. Children should be encouraged to interact with peers rather than spending the majority of time engrossed in a solo activity.
• Encourage a mix of activities - Overstimulation from TV, iPads and computer games can lead to the brain becoming accustomed to a high level of stimulus, making traditional activities, like book reading, boring. Parents should encourage kids to spend time doing other activities as well; consider having a trade-off - 30 minutes of TV = 30 minutes of outdoor play.
"We've been seeing an increase in screen time for many years," Dr. Briggs said. "And with more devices available than ever, parents should try to consider them as a treat - just like dessert."
Source: Montefiore Medical Center