What You Should Think About Before Giving Your Child A Device

A new infographic can help parents understand the pros and cons of their kids' screen time.

Children are now spending seven hours every day consuming entertainment media on televisions, computers, game consoles and phones, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. While parents shouldn't freak out about wired playdates, they do need to have "screen sense" as well as common sense, thinking through their parenting strategies when screens are everywhere.

That means focusing not just on screen time but also on screen use. What's on all of those screens? Are kids using educational apps and communicating with grandparents, or are they playing shooting games and watching raw videos from YouTube? How are we using our screens around young children?

The infographic below, which comes from the California Cryobank and was designed by the marketing firm Ghergich, explores the pros and cons of screen use. As always, please feel free to weigh in in the comments about the parenting strategies you are adopting and adapting in the age of the smartphone.

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