Screen Apnea in Kids and Finding Balance with Technology

You may have heard that your children are at risk of “screen apnea.” It sounds scary, like it’s possible for smartphones, tablets, and computers to make us stop breathing. It’s enough to make you remove devices from your children’s hands for good.

Hold on! Letting kids play a game on a tablet or watch a video on your phone isn’t going to make them stop breathing, but the idea of “screen apnea” is still food for thought.

What Is “Screen Apnea”?

“Screen apnea” is not a medical condition, and it’s not technically apnea, which is an episode in which a person stops breathing. It is a phrase coined by a technology user who developed the term after noticing that her breathing became faster and shallower whenever she checked her email, received text messages, or spent any amount of time focused on a screen.

Technically, any stress (for example, driving to work, getting a squirmy child ready for school, or sitting in a doctor’s waiting room) can cause our breathing patterns to change. That doesn’t mean we can eliminate those stressors.

The claim that screens harm kids by altering their breathing simply isn’t supported by research.

What we do know is that spending hours looking at a TV, phone or computer screen isn’t healthy. Many studies have shown that extensive screen time makes kids sedentary, disturbs their sleep, strains their eyes, and can negatively impact their academic and social development. Older children who have their own devices and are active on social media may feel substantial stress related to frequent checking of notifications and the complexities of online socializing.

Thankfully, there’s an accessible remedy—Taking the time to build better technology habits with your kids.

Model the Behavior

Start with yourself! Avoid responding to notifications or multi-tasking with a screen while interacting with your kids if you expect them to do the same when you’re trying to talk with them. Don’t use your phone during mealtimes, don’t catch up on emails during conversations, and don’t text while watching a movie. Turning off push notifications can help reduce the temptation to check your devices during these screentime breaks.

Create and Maintain Boundaries

Set a boundary with your employer and colleagues when possible that, aside from emergencies, you can’t respond to work-related emails or messages outside of work hours. This shows your kids that they don’t have to be “on” all the time, either.

Set expectations with your kids about when they can or cannot use screens. Halting screen time one to two hours before they go to bed can help improve sleep onset and quality in many kids. Don’t let them use phones or tablets during activities that require their attention. That means no screens while doing homework or studying, playing sports, crossing the street, watching concerts or attending religious services.   

Encourage Screen-Free Activities

Even if your kid is doing homework on a device, insist on occasional breaks. Encourage them to develop screen-free hobbies that make them happy. Pretend play, outside activities, and reading books together are great for younger kids. Crafts, role-playing board games, and volunteering in the community are awesome activities for older kids.

Balance Is Achievable

While technology isn’t starving our kids of oxygen, it does have an impact on the way they act, think, and sleep. Being aware is the first step. Take a deep breath and plan to take a screen-free break with your kids today.