By Jill Rollie Sumner Elementary School principal Screens are everywhere and managing technology in today’s world can be hard for both parents and kids. Unlike in the past, parents now wonder if their child is ready for a smartphone or if a video game is okay for their age. The answers can vary for each family. Technology has many benefits, but research shows that keeping a healthy balance with screen time is important for everyone. Families that create good screen time routines make room for other important activities and interactions that help kids grow. Eighty percent of a child’s brain development happens during the first three years of life. The Children’s Screen Time Action Network and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association share some key facts about this stage: • Human connections like talking, reading, and playing help brains grow best. • Parents tend to talk less when using a smartphone. • Looking at devices makes it harder for adults to notice a child’s emotions and needs. • Giving a screen to a baby or young child when they are upset can make it harder for them to learn how to calm themselves. • Too much screen time can delay speech and language development. • Real-life interactions and play provide benefits that screens cannot. Even before school starts, kids gain important skills through daily experiences. At Sumner Elementary School, we believe strong relationships with students help them learn faster. Dr. Becky Bailey’s book Conscious Discipline explains that “connections on the outside with other people build neuro connections on the inside.” These brain connections help with self-control, motivation, and focus. To build these connections, kids need: • Eye contact • Physical touch • Full attention • Playful moments You can support these needs by reading with your child, going on nature walks, talking during meals, and playing games together. Skills like emotional control, social interaction, patience, and focus are essential for school success. Too much screen time can slow down the development of these skills. Children copy what adults do, so it’s important for caregivers to model healthy screen habits. This fall, Sumner’s Family Focus Group talked about healthy screen time habits and worked together to create monthly tips and screen-free activity ideas. We encourage families to prioritize special moments without screens at home because “what the brain does more of, the brain gets better at!” The post APS Column: Screen time and healthy habits appeared first on Austin Daily Herald.