Pandemic screen time

Dec 10, 2020 | Jennifer O'Hara | @jenohara

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Monitoring screen time for children can be a challenge for parents and caregivers under normal circumstances. But with the COVID-19 pandemic, remote schooling has increased the amount of time students are glued to computer monitors and smartphone screens.

"Depending on the age of the child there are some considerations, because our younger children are just not meant to be staring at a screen for six, seven hours a day," says Dr. Tina Ardon, a Mayo Clinic Family Medicine physician.

In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Ardon talks about the challenges, frustrations and problem-solving skills needed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To practice safe social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, this interview was conducted using video conferencing. The sound and video quality are representative of the technology used. For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in an area not designated for patient care, where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.

Connect with others talking about the pandemic and supporting one another in the COVID-19 support group.

Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting. Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific understanding, along with guidelines and recommendations, may have changed since the original publication date.

For more information and all your COVID-19 coverage, go to the Mayo Clinic News Network and mayoclinic.org.