The recommended screen time is no more than 2 hours.

Psychiatrist Dr. Joe Austerman points out the warning signs of addiction.

“If there is any change in mood or any change in anxiety or especially if you’re trying to get your child off the video games and you see that they become explosive, or they have a really strong attachment to these video games.”

Pay attention to their behavior when it comes to smartphones, computers and tablets. Watch to see if they are picking their device over family, friends, and playing outside.

Dr. Austerman recommends one way to control a child’s screen time: come up with a contract that promotes self-regulation. If they do a good job putting down the device when they are supposed to, reward them in some way. If they have trouble, then limit access altogether.

“You say ‘Now tomorrow, because you broke the rules you don’t get any screen time,’ Dr. Austerman says. “So you use the carrot and the stick method and I think that works really well with children.”

(American Academy of Pediactrics)