{"id":77953,"date":"2024-12-24T15:17:16","date_gmt":"2024-12-24T15:17:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/?p=77953"},"modified":"2025-06-19T11:55:26","modified_gmt":"2025-06-19T11:55:26","slug":"screen-time-for-6-9-year-olds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/blog\/screen-time-for-6-9-year-olds\/","title":{"rendered":"How to set screen time boundaries for 6 to 9-year-olds"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Children aged 6\u20139 tend to be curious, energetic, and increasingly independent. They\u2019re managing the transition from early childhood to middle childhood, which includes more structured learning environments, developing peer-focused social skills, and a growing sense of responsibility. <\/span>This stage of development typically includes more exposure to lots of things, including digital media<\/b> and screen time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Technology can be a helpful tool for learning and socializing\u2014but <\/span>without proper boundaries, it can have negative impacts on their development<\/b>. As with many things at this age, parents need to consider how to adapt the rules and responsibilities around technology to best meet the needs of kids as they go through their elementary school years.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Why screen time boundaries are important for 6 to 9-year-olds<\/b><\/h2>\n

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Children aged 6-9 are undergoing significant physical, emotional, and cognitive growth. They need to be able to focus their attention on what is going on in the world around them, and with the people around them, in order to maximize their development during this stage. <\/span>Excessive screen time can get in the way of this, as it keeps their focus on the screen as opposed to the human interactions and activities happening around them<\/b>. The <\/span>American Academy of Pediatrics<\/span><\/a> recommends that parents limit the amount of time kids spend on screens, and focus on prioritizing other activities that don\u2019t involve screens and digital media.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What the studies say<\/b><\/h2>\n

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A healthy lifestyle is also crucial at this age. Kids aged 6 to 9 need to be physically active, eat well, and get enough sleep in order to support brain and body development. We know that kids who spend more than the recommended 2 hours per day on screens are <\/span>at risk for a wide variety of health problems,<\/span><\/a> including obesity and metabolic disorders, unhealthy diet patterns and eating disorders, sleep problems, dry eyes, headaches, and muscle aches. <\/span>Many of these issues stem from the reduced physical activity that happens when kids are spending hours a day on screens<\/b>. Kids at these ages need at least an hour of physical activity each day, and this should be prioritized before screen time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Academic learning is also a key focus at these ages as some schools encourage screen time as a tool for learning in the classroom. This can have benefits and drawbacks, but parents need to be aware that their child has likely already had a significant amount of screen time during the school day before they return home in the afternoon. <\/span>Excessive screen time leads kids to be more sedentary and experience more sleep problems<\/b>, which has a <\/span>negative impact on their ability to focus and learn in school.<\/span><\/a> If we want kids to succeed in school, then we need to set limits on the amount of time they spend on screens, particularly smartphones.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Strategies for setting screen time boundaries for 6 to 9-year-olds<\/b><\/h2>\n

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Creating and enforcing screen time limits for this age group requires a more collaborative approach than setting limits for younger children. At this stage, children are more independent and may resist restrictions. However, they\u2019re also capable of understanding the reasoning behind boundaries. Here are some strategies to consider for kids in this age group:<\/span><\/p>\n

Set clear rules and routines<\/b><\/p>\n

Create a daily schedule that includes specific times for screen use but prioritizes other activities, such as outdoor play, reading, time with friends, and family time. For example:<\/span><\/p>\n