Home and Away

If your kid is home sick from school, is unlimited screen time OK?

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Managing a child’s screen time when they’re home sick from school has taken on a whole new dimension.

Key Points: 
  • Managing a child’s screen time when they’re home sick from school has taken on a whole new dimension.
  • For many parents, the challenge of juggling work and caring for a sick child at home inevitably leads to more TV or iPad.

Illness should not automatically equal unlimited screens

    • The answer depends on several factors and understanding these elements can help parents manage their child’s screen time effectively and healthily.
    • Still, we should also try to avoid a pattern where every minor illness is seen as a gateway to endless screen time.
    • Over time, this could lead to a situation where children might exaggerate or even feign symptoms of illness to gain extra screen time.

How old is your child?

    • The Australian screen time guidelines for young children and toddlers are less than those for older children.
    • This means more guidance and support is needed to manage younger children’s use of screens.
    • There are also continued concerns about the mental health impacts of young people’s social media use.

How sick is your child?

    • Some illnesses, such as high fever or flu, necessitate ample rest to aid recovery.
    • The stimulating effects of screen light can disrupt a child’s sleep, hindering the rest and recovery process.

What are the pre-existing rules in your house?

    • Having a baseline – even if it is more generous – makes some screen time limits during a sick day an expected norm.
    • Maintaining these rules can help prevent a free-for-all scenario, which could complicate matters once the child recovers and needs to readjust to their regular schedule.
    • On the other hand, if there are no pre-existing rules for non-school days, introducing snap strict screen time regulations when a child is unwell may not be the best approach.

Keep an eye on things

    • Consider supporting decisions that help them rest and then switch off after an agreed period.
    • It’s also of course essential to distinguish between entertainment screen use and schoolwork that must be completed on a computer or tablet.
    • Jordy Kaufman has received funding from the Australian Department of Education and Training to research children’s use of technology for education.

Scripps Networks celebrates the holidays with five new original movies on ION and Bounce

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 26, 2021

ATLANTA, Oct. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Five new original holiday movies will premiere on ION and Bounce beginning Sunday, Nov. 21. In total, the Scripps Networks will combine to air over 200 hours of holiday movies and programming. Last year, ION ranked No. 1 among all networks airing original holiday programming. *

Key Points: 
  • ATLANTA, Oct. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Five new original holiday movies will premiere on ION and Bounce beginning Sunday, Nov. 21.
  • In total, the Scripps Networks will combine to air over 200 hours of holiday movies and programming.
  • *
    The new original Scripps Networks holiday movies for 2021:
    "Who is Christmas Eve?"
  • *Source: Nielsen Media Research, A25-54 C3 Impressions, 2020 (11/26/20 - 1/1/21), competitive set based on networks with original holiday movies, total day excluding kids programming.

Scripps Networks celebrates the holidays with five new original movies on ION and Bounce

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 21, 2021

ATLANTA, Oct. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Five new original holiday movies will premiere on ION and Bounce beginning Sunday, Nov. 21.

Key Points: 
  • ATLANTA, Oct. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Five new original holiday movies will premiere on ION and Bounce beginning Sunday, Nov. 21.
  • In total, the Scripps Networks will combine to air over 200 hours of holiday movies and programming.
  • *
    The new original Scripps Networks holiday movies for 2021:
    "Who is Christmas Eve?"
  • *Source: Nielsen Media Research, A25-54 C3 Impressions, 2020 (11/26/20 - 1/1/21), competitive set based on networks with original holiday movies, total day excluding kids programming.