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Screens & modern childhood
Screen habits, eye comfort and what the evidence says about screens, without judgement.
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Why does my child sit so close to the screen?
Nose to the iPad, forehead nearly on the TV. Most of the time this is a young eye doing exactly what it is built to do. What matters is knowing the difference between habit and the first sign of short-sightedness.
Key takeaways
- A young child's focusing system is unusually strong, so sitting close is normal, immersive behaviour, not a sign of damage.
- Closeness becomes worth checking when it appears alongside squinting, whiteboard complaints, or headaches, because it is one of the ways short-sightedness first shows.
- Screens tire the eyes temporarily, but that strain does not cause permanent damage.
Screens & modern childhood
Why does my child sit so close to the screen?
Usually harmless, occasionally a clue. How to tell which one you are seeing.
Screens & modern childhood
The 20-20-20 rule: screen breaks that actually happen
Every 20 minutes, 20 feet, 20 seconds. What it can and cannot do, and how to make breaks happen.
Screens & modern childhood
Do children need blue light glasses?
The coating has never been tested in a child. What the evidence shows, and what actually helps sore eyes.
Screens & modern childhood
Screen rules that survive grandma's house
Why the rule that works at home falls apart at grandma's, and how to write one that does not need an enforcer.
Screens & modern childhood
Does screen size matter? Phone, tablet, TV and your child's eyes
Bigger feels safer. The evidence is really about distance, not diagonal inches.
Screens & modern childhood
A VR headset for the holidays: is it safe for my child's eyes?
No proof of harm, very little long-term evidence, and age limits worth reading.
Screens & modern childhood
Screens before age two: what the guidance says, and what it means for a baby's eyes
What WHO and the AAP say about screens before two, and what is known about a baby's eyes.
Squint & lazy eye
Can too much screen time make my child's eye turn in?
Reports link them, proof does not exist yet. What to do this week.
the short version, every week
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Every article here starts life as a carousel, quick, illustrated, easy to send to a worried friend.
@drchanliyen