Screens can be part of a child’s healthy bedtime routine, study shows

Most parents are aware of the current advice to switch off all screens at least an hour before bed however, a recent study reveals this may not be necessary for every child.

The study, from Deakin’s Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition in partnership with The University of Queensland, revealed the interaction between screens and sleep may be more complex than first thought, with the impacts of screens on children potentially being less pronounced.

‘In the past the advice has really been for kids, and adults too, to avoid screens at all costs if we want to have a good night’s sleep,’ Dr Matthew Bourke said.

‘What our research revealed was that there are many factors that impact how screen time will affect us at night. It really depends on the individual.

‘For some, using screens obviously has a negative impact on sleep but for others, using screens before bed might not be so bad. For some people, it can help them disengage from the stressors of the day, to calm their thoughts and balance their mood.'

The study analysed data from 25 existing studies reporting on 4,562 participants aged three to 25 years. Data collected included total sleep time, sleep quality, time taken to fall asleep and how often young people woke up over the course of the night.

The Deakin analysis was unique because it examined relationships at the day-to-day level, to see if using screens more on a single day affects sleep that night.

Previous studies have evaluated if people who typically use screens more regularly sleep worse than those who use them less often.

The Deakin research found daily screen time may delay bedtime slightly but has only minimal impact on sleep duration, efficiency, or quality.

The study also examined whether different types of screen time made a difference.

‘We looked at the differences between active and passive screen use, activities like watching television versus playing video games or using social media and interestingly found no significant difference in the impact on sleep,’ Dr Bourke said.

Dr Bourke notes there are always exceptions, and parents still need to account for the individual needs of their child, including underlying conditions and the child’s natural circadian rhythms.

‘Of course, if your child is sitting up until 3am glued to their device, that’s not going to be a good thing for them. If a behavioral pattern occurs over time where using screens is clearly impacting a child’s ability to sleep, this is obviously a concern,’ said Dr Bourke.

‘It’s a growing area of research and we need a better understanding of what other factors are at play in the interaction between sleep and screens.’

• This research focused on screen time use by children prior to bedtime in relation to sleep. It showed that this may not negatively impact sleep for all children. However, this is a new area of research still requiring further investigation.
• Parents need to determine what’s best for their child based on their child’s individual needs/behaviours
• Research around screen time in general indicates too much screen time is linked to negative health and behavioural outcomes.