Province urging children to limit screen time

The Saskatchewan government wants kids to take a break.

The government announced Thursday the launch of its “Take a Break” campaign, which urges kids to stay off social media and their screens in order to find a healthy lifestyle.

“According to the Canadian Pediatric Society (2019), 75 per cent of parents are concerned with how much time their children are spending on social media and state that 36 per cent of their 10- to 13-year-olds are on devices for more than three hours per day,” the government said in a media release.

“Another study in Ontario (Canadian Medical Association Journal) found that there is a seven per cent increase today in adolescents who are on screens more than five hours per day compared to 2013-2017.”

The “Take A Break” campaign is looking to help parents, caregivers, children, teens and members of the community recognize the signs of too much screen time and how to choose healthy alternatives to using digital technology.

Information on the “Take A Break” website will offer tips on alternatives to screen time and how to create a healthy balance. An ad campaign also will offer suggestions, as will an online conversation at #TakeABreakSK.