A new study by the Angus Reid Institute and TVO shows half of Canadian parents believe their children spend too much time on electronic devices.
With the back to school season beginning, parents are focused on how much time is being spent on devices, whether children are being pulled away from a summer full of screen time, or the amount of hours spent doing homework on a tablet, how much is too much?
The new study suggests a large portion of parents are concerned about the addictive traits associated with digital devices and how much physical activity and development is impacted by them.
Eighty-nine per cent of parents believe electronic devices can provide value as an educational tool but 46 per cent believe their children might be spending too much time watching a screen.
Eighty-seven per cent of all Canadian parents with children between the ages of two and 12 admit their children spend at least an hour a day on an electronic device, with the majority spending significantly more time than that.
In accordance with children's screen times, many parents express concerns regarding physical fitness, mental health, sociability and academic performance.
Sixty-eight per cent of parents with children who spend less than one hour a day using an electronic device believe their children are excelling in these areas, compared to the 44 per cent of parents who allow their children to spend four or more hours using a device.
— Miriam Halpenny, Castanet
