I stopped screen time for my three-year-old daughter & there's been three HUGE changes in her behaviour – I'm stunned
Whether it's social media, online games or kids' shows - it all adds up and can be very addictive.
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A recent survey found the average child is spending a whopping 45 hours a week stuck indoors – with more than a third of that time staring at screens.
A quarter of 2,000 parents said their kids show zero interest in outdoor activities, while indoor habits are dominated by passive pastimes like watching TV (59 per cent), gaming (54 per cent), and scrolling on phones (41 per cent).
Excessive screen time, scientists warned, increases the risk of a heart attack, as well as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and insulin resistance among youngsters.
But is it possible to get your little ones to spend less time in front of screens - and does it affect their behaviour?
According to one mum-of-two, Kirstie Lewis, the answer is yes.
Kirstie recently told TikTok users she's stopped letting her three-year-old daughter from watching TV - and there have been huge changes.
''Now, I'm really have to use my brain in terms of creating ideas on how to keep her occupied and busy,'' the mum said in the video.
''But the things I've noticed are quite severe, in a positive way.''
One of the things, for instance, is that the tot is now ''nicer'' and ''kinder'' - to the point, where Kirstie sees her daughter as 'best friend'.
''I want to be around her now - weird,'' said Kirstie who added that the relationship looked very different just two weeks ago.
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On top of this, the young girl now plays on her own way more than she used to before the screen time ban.
''She's initiating play, she'll go into her playroom, she'll be engaged for longer,'' the mum claimed, noting that in the past her daughter would ''dart from thing to thing''.
''Now, she will stick to a game for a long time. I can walk away and I can have my shower and stuff.
''I still go downstairs thinking 'No, has she pi**ed up the walls?' - no, she's still there drawing or playing.
''This is huge,'' said Kirstie who regularly shares parenting-related content on page, @ kirstielewismumma.
According to the mother, the no screen time rule has also bonded the little girl with her sister more - and she'll be interacting with her sibling way more.
''It's so cute. And these are huge things.
''Don't get me wrong, we didn't have tonnes and tonnes of screen time in this house, she doesn't have a tablet, she doesn't have access to our phone.''
How long should kids be on screens?
Dr Amanda, who's a parenting expert and child psychologist gave a general guide for parents who wish to limit screen time.
Age 1-3 years old
How long: 5 minutes per year of life in one sitting
Dr Gummer says: "If you are really hoping your child will learn from the screen time they have then one rule of thumb is that on average children can concentrate for 5 minutes per year of their life (i.e. 15 minutes at age 3)."
Age 1+
How long: 1 hour per day
Dr Gummer says: "For younger children we feel that around 1 hour per day is a sensible limit to aim for on a regular weekday.
"Once you add together time on mobile devices, TV, computers and other devices with screens this may not seem like much (and remember children may get screen time at school)."
Age 2+
How long: 2 hour per day
Dr Gummer says: "Various sources including the American Academy of Paediatrics recommend no more than 2 hours per day (for children aged 2 and over)."
Children of all ages
Over two hours a day is excessive usage
Dr Gummer says: "A recent study saw some detrimental effects in teenagers that used more than 3 hours per day of screen time and consider this 'excessive usage'
Up until recently, the three-year-old would have her breakfast with a show in background on the telly.
The tantrums, she went on to add, have also practically vanished and are now ''non-existent''.
''I thought she's gonna go mad - but no, she hasn't. She's asked me once or twice.''
Kirstie said: ''I ain't saying no screen time ever again - I'm thinking maybe it needs to be like a treat and not an everyday thing.
''And when she does get it, it's limited.
''I ain't judging if you use screen time, I'm really, really not. I'm not one of these people who are going to judge you for having a tablet or doing screen time.
''But I'm saying if you're struggling with your toddlers behaviour, try and cut out some screen time and see what happens.''
Fellow parents share their experience
Since being uploaded on the platform, the clip has racked up more than a whopping 75k views in just five days.
Dozens of parents flooded to comments to share their experience - and it seemed that many of them agreed.
One mum wrote: ''Needed this today! I did it so successfully for a week and then gave it back now it's going again her tantrums.''
Another chimed in: ''I'm on day 3 of no screen time with my 3 year old. Massive changes. A lot more calmer. Less tantrums and not speaking to me like a teenager.''
''Honestly this makes me so relieved that I'm doing the right thing!'' a mum said.
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