A recent public health survey France draws up a worrying observation: in 2022, children aged 3 to 11 spent between an hour and two and a half hours per day in front of the screens, depending on their age.
9-11 year olds exceed two and a half hours daily
The results of the Enabee survey specify that:
- The 3-5 year olds spend an average of 1 h 22 per day to screens;
- The 6-8 year olds spend 1 h 53;
- And 9-11 year olds approximately 2:30 a.m.
The exhibition is still climbing during school days, when the time spent can double.
Television remains the dominant media among the youngest, representing 71 % of the screen time of 3-5 year olds and 60 % among 6-8 year olds. But smartphones and tablets are gaining ground: almost one in two children has a phone at 11 years old, and 15 % of the under -6s already use a tablet.
Different uses depending on age and sex
The study also reveals distinct practices: boys are more oriented towards video game consoles, while girls turn earlier towards smartphones and social networks.
If registration on these platforms is theoretically reserved for people over 13, 25 % of 9-11 year olds and 7 % of 6-8 year olds are already present.
These uses are not without consequences. The child psychiatrist Stéphane Clerget recalls that “Their use can affect their sleep, their creativity, their academic results or their sociability “. Public health France also underlines that “If screens can offer many opportunities, their excessive use and their impact on the health and development of children are the subject of many concerns and research in recent years“.
The weight of social inequalities
The exhibition also varies according to social origin. Children of less graduate families more often have personal devices and spend more time in front of screens.
“The children of parents from the most disadvantaged socio-professional categories are more affected by screens, often because these families have more children and it is more difficult to occupy them. Wealthy families, on the contrary, put other activities more easily to occupy children“Explains Dr. Clerget.
Conscious but outdated parents
The study highlights a paradox: nine out of ten parents claim to supervise the screen time, but the exhibition remains much higher than the recommendations.
“What surprises in this study is the paradox of parental consciousness concerning screen time. I do not see a single parent call into question the harmful effects of screens. However, few of them manage to limit them, the ideal being not to exceed half an hour per day. The difficulty therefore lies in the implementation of rules for that“Underlines the expert.
Dr Clerget’s practical advice
To better supervise the time spent in front of the screens, the child psychiatrist recommends:
- Remove the devices at the end of the day to avoid sleep disorders.
- Propose alternative activities in order to occupy vacuum times.
- Monitor the use of social networks, by controlling subscriptions and content.
- Set progressive objectives to reduce screen time.
Ultimately, if screens are now an integral part of the children’s daily lives, their use can be supervised. The key lies in the balance between parental vigilance, various activities and support, in order to allow the youngest to benefit from digital without suffering the drifts.