Spark a change for children, young people and their families
Screen awareness week runs from Monday 18 March to Friday 22 March 2024, and aims to raise the profile of the impact screen use has on child development, health and well-being.
High levels of screen time can effect children and young people’s sleep, levels of activity, mental health, behaviour and speech and language skills.
Alison Gooding, Speech and Language Therapy Service Manager for South Ayrshire Health & Social Care Partnership said, “Screens awareness week is a first of its kind in Ayrshire. It brings together NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s Speech and Language Therapy and Public Health team with each of the Health & Social Care Partnership’s in East, North and South.
“Current evidence suggests that increased screen time usage in children and young people is having a detrimental impact, on both their development and well-being.
“High levels of screen use is having an impact on a significant number of children and young people and it is important we address it and ensure key messages are shared.”
Increased screen time:
- can cause less time sleeping, poor sleep quality and excessive daytime sleepiness for children and young people;
- can cause lower levels of fitness and greater risk of unhealthy weight in children aged 0-18 years;
- can cause low mood and low self-esteem in children aged 0-18 years;
- can impact negatively on social skills and behaviour in children aged 0-7 years;
- can impact language development when used in the early stages of child’s life; and
- is associated with a smaller vocabulary in children aged 2 when parents or carers spend long periods of time watching TV or on other electronic devices.
Alison added, “Screens awareness week is an opportunity to remind ourselves of the importance of spending time away from entertainment screens and enjoying connecting with others, playing and experiencing some breathing space.
“During this week we’re asking parents, carers, children and young people to reduce their screen time.”
For more information, or to tell us how you plan to spend your screen free week visit our website –