6.16 tweens and screens ready...hours most kids spend on a screen daily and the number of hours most...

©2018 erin cobb imlovinlit.com

Screen time is the amount of time a person

spends looking at digital screens, including

tablets, computers, smartphones, and TVs.

Recent studies show that kids between the

ages of 8 and 18 spend an average of five to

seven hours per day in front of a screen.

According to the American Academy of

Pediatrics (AAP), too much screen time can

increase a child’s chances of experiencing

many negative issues including sleep

problems, obesity, cyberbullying, and poor

school performance.

90% of Americans admit to using an

electronic device to unwind before bedtime.

Source: www.unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com

The truth is, screen time before or even in

bed is very disruptive to your sleep. Digital

screens can actually confuse the body’s

circadian rhythm, or natural clock. Digital

screens emit a blue light. This blue light

reduces the amount of sleep hormone, or

melatonin, the body releases, blocking your

body’s natural ability to relax and prepare for

sleep. Instead, it keeps a body stimulated,

making it more difficult to fall asleep. The

more screen time kids have before bed, the

more it can affect their natural sleep cycle. The

body and the brain depend on this natural

sleep cycle working properly in order for a

The Truth About Too Much Screen Time

Tweens and Screensby Adrienne Zembower

person to be alert the next

day. Over time, screen use

before bed can lead to chronic

sleep deficiency and even

depression.

As kids sit motionless on

their devices after school,

their bodies get little to no

activity. Many kids spend less

than an hour a day outside, if

any at all. This lack of exercise

increases the risk for weight

gain and obesity. Kids who


eat in front of a screen

often eat mindlessly. They

are likely to eat more than

they should with little

thought to what they are

putting in their bodies.

Too much snacking may

lead to avoiding a meal

that is more likely to be

balanced with nutrients

that a growing body

needs.

Another problem with

screen time is the added

Stopbullying.gov says that cyber-bullying

can be difficult for a few reasons. First, it can

be persistent. Users can bully 24 hours a day.

Social media and apps do not typically close

or have off hours. Next, it can be permanent.

Once something is put online, it stays there.

The target of bullying cannot erase it and

neither can the bully. Lastly, it can be hard to

notice. Teachers and parents may not see the

bullying or know that it is happening. In

some instances, cyberbullying can even be

against the law. The National Center for

Education Statistics and the Bureau of Justice

Statistics reported that 21% of kids age 12 to

18 have experienced cyberbullying.

The American Academy of Pediatrics

advises kids to get no more than two hours

of screen time per day. It is also suggested

that families avoid using electronic devices at

least 30 minutes before bed. A better option

would be to read a book. Avoiding the

harmful blue light associated with digital

electronics can help you to be more alert and

rested the next day.

risk of cyberbullying. Even

if a child is not using a social media website, he

or she may be playing video games, like

Fortnite™, that allow communication between

players. They may also spend time texting or

using other apps that support social activity.

Cyberbullying is sending or sharing

negative or harmful information with the intent

to cause shame or embarrassment. Social media

allows bullies to work alone or with others

against a target. Since the reaction of the target

is not seen, this bullying can become overly

aggressive, especially in video game circles.


Nonfiction Article of the Week6-16: The Truth About Too Much Screen Time

Informational Text

Skill: Integrate Information from Different Media



Informational Text

Activity 2

Skill: Literal Comprehension

Comprehension QuizAnswer each question or complete each statement according to the article.

1. According to the article, how many hours per day to kids spend in front of a screen?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

2. Why do most Americans say they use an electronic device before bedtime?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

3. Why shouldn’t screens be used before bed?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

4. What is the body’s sleep hormone called?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

5. How much time do most kids spend outside per day?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

6. What is online bullying called?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

7. The article discusses possible negative effects of _________ in front of a screen.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

8. How many daily hours of screen time does the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend?

_______________________________________________________________________________________



Informational Text

For items 1-4, you’ll be citing textual evidence to support what the text says explicitly.

1. Find the sentence that clarifies what your circadian rhythm is. Highlight it in blue.

2. Find the sentence that tells how blue light makes you feel when used before bedtime.

Highlight it in green.

3. Find the sentence that defines cyberbullying. Highlight it in purple.

4. Find the sentence that tells why cyberbullying is hard to notice. Highlight it in gray.

Finding Text EvidenceFind each piece of text evidence in the article and highlight OR underline it with the color specified.

Skill: Text Evidence

For items 5-8, you’ll be citing one piece or multiple pieces of textual evidence to support

inferences drawn from the text.

5. Find one piece of evidence from the article that supports the claim that too much

screen time before bed can affect your grades. Highlight it in orange.

6. Find two pieces of text evidence that together show a difference in the number of

hours most kids spend on a screen daily and the number of hours most parents say

they allow their children to use a screen daily. Highlight them in yellow.

7. Find one piece of evidence from the article that supports the idea that kids should

only play video games with known friends. Highlight it in pink.

8. Find two pieces of text evidence from the article that support this statement:

Too much screen time can restrict kids’ physical activity. Highlight them in red.

Activity 3

6.16 tweens and screens ready...hours most kids spend on a screen daily and the number of hours most...

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