3-6-9-12: The Rule To Be Followed Against Childhood Overexposure To Screen.
Tablets, smartphones, game consoles or computers ...
The overexposure of children to screens is not without risks for their health and their development.
Scientists keep warning and educating parents about the dangers of screens.
That is why a campaign named 3-6-9-12 was launched to educate parents.
The aim of this campaign is to limit excess and prevent children from spending too much time in front of the screens.
Because the dangers are very real: overweight, myopia, problems with sleep and school performance, language delays, attention and behavioral disorders.
here is the 3-6-9-12 rule against overexposure of children to screens. Look :
"We spend our time being the gendarme"
It must be recognized that the position of parents in front of the screens is not always easy!
Regardless of the age of the children, parents must constantly play gendarmes and ensure that screen time does not exceed certain limits.
Not always easy ... Let's face it, it's very tempting to leave them for long hours in front of the screens to have peace or to avoid a new conflict.
Development delays
However, these hours spent in front of a TV or a tablet have very concrete consequences which can result in delays in development.
Thus, Anne-Lise Ducanda, doctor of maternal and child protection of Évry, in Essonne, testifies to the effects of screens on the brains of children.
More and more children who come for a consultation are having difficulty understanding simple instructions, simply running or climbing ...
The 3-6-9-12 rule
Professionals are well aware that it is not possible to ban screens completely.
This would not necessarily be of service to children.
But, in the family setting, it is possible to set limits so that the screens have a fair place.
It is for this reason that Serge Tisseron, psychiatrist, created the 3-6-9-12 rule.
These are benchmarks: they help put in place rules on screen time in each family.
For specialists, the rule to follow is:
- before 3 years old, no TV,
- before 6 years old, no game console,
- before 9 years old, no Internet access,
- before 12 years old, no social networks.
As Serge Tisseron points out, there are 4 points of reference to remember:
"3 years, entry into kindergarten; 6 years, entry into CP; 8-9 years, the age when the child in principle masters reading and writing; and finally the passage to college at 11 years , soon followed by adolescence. "
Some psychologists go further. They believe that the first smartphone should not be offered to adolescents before entering high school.
No news before 8 years old
For its part, the Superior Audiovisual Council (CSA) confirms that children under 3 should not be exposed to screens at all.
The CSA adds that an 8-year-old child has nothing to do in front of a television news.
Only programs adapted to young people should be authorized: "It can be animation, films for children but also educational programs or documentaries", he specifies.
What screen time according to age?
Once these rules are incorporated, you might wonder how much screen time should be allowed based on your child's age.
Whether your child is 5 years old, 8 years old, 10 or 13 years old ... the screen duration allowed varies.
To get an idea of the time a child can spend in front of a screen, some professionals, such as Stéphane Clerget child psychiatrist, recommend a simple trick:
- 1 hour of screen per year and per week without ever exceeding 1 pm during the week.
Eg:a 5 year old child is entitled to 5 hours of screen per week, an 8 year old child can be in front of a screen for 8 hours per week etc ...
If you are interested in the subject and want more information on the consequences of exposure of children to screens, you can download the "prevention" poster free of charge here.
We also recommend the book by Serge Tisseron: 3-6-9-12 Taming the screens and growing up.
Your turn...
What do you think of this rule against overexposure of children to screens? Tell us in the comments if you apply them at home. We can't wait to hear from you!
Do you like this trick ? Share it with your friends on Facebook.
Also to discover:
These Children Live WITHOUT A SCREEN Or Tablet. The Beautiful Photos of Niki Boon.
10 Reasons Why Teens DON'T NEED Social Networks (Facebook, Instagram ...).