Most of us would probably concede that we spend too much time staring at screens. It’s not unusual to reach for your smartphone first thing in the morning, spend all day in front of a computer monitor, and then relax by flopping down in front of the TV. Sometimes, we even browse on a smaller screen while watching a bigger one. Screens aren’t just for entertainment anymore, we use them to communicate, to shop, to share — we use them for everything.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that entertainment screen time is limited to one or two hours per day, and that children under two years of age don’t watch any at all.

7 Things to Keep in Mind When the Electronic Babysitter is Getting a Lot of Play

1. Television brings little or no benefits, but it replaces activities that do make kids happier, healthier, and smarter. The more kids watch TV, the less time they tend to spend with their parents and siblings, the less time they spend doing homework (for 7-12 year olds), and the less time they spend in creative play (especially in children younger than 5). For very young children (less than 3), time spent watching TV replaces activities children need for proper brain development, particularly interaction with their caregivers.
2. On the other hand, research has shown that playing video games doesn’t usually take time away from sports or other active pursuits, and that game-playing teens spend the same amount of time with family and friends as non-gamers.
3. Those pediatricians are right: infants and toddlers under 2 should not have any screen time. Early television exposure is associated with problems like ADD and ADHD, and decreased intelligence later in childhood.
4. Computer use by children under the age of three is also not recommended. However, some research shows that computer programs, when combined with activities that facilitate what the programs are trying to teach, can help 3- to 4-year-olds develop a range of skills, including long-term memory, manual dexterity and verbal skills.
5. Not all screen time is equal. In our homes we should ban the 20% of videogames that are rated as too violent or sexual for kids. Research shows a strong link between violent video game play and aggressive feelings and behaviors; violent video games trigger a part of the brain that drives people to act aggressively. And violent video game play measurably decreases helpful behaviors. Similarly, watching violent programming on TV is associated with a decrease in fantasy play among preschoolers and an increase in children’s aggressiveness.
6. Parents who watch television with their children and reinforce the educational aspects of shows can improve the quality of the learning experience for their children. Unfortunately, most kids usually don’t watch educational television with their parents – they watch general audience programs targeted to adults rather than children.
7. Although 68% of American kids do have televisions in their rooms, children with a TV in their bedroom are 1.3 times more likely to be overweight (even when they are physically active and/or participate in team sports).