Almost every parent stresses about how many hours their kids log on their tablet, smartphone or TV each day. But according to a new study, the amount of time a kid spends on a screen isn’t actually as important as how dependent the kid is on the screen.
Spending too much time in front of a screen has been linked to a lack of sleep, speech delays and poor social skills. But brand new research out of the University of Michigan has found that the bigger issue “is whether screen use causes problems in other areas of life or has become an all-consuming activity,” says the study’s lead author Sarah Domoff, assistant professor of psychology at Central Michigan University. When this happens, it’s considered screen addiction. The researchers developed a tool to measure screen addiction in kids ages four to 11. Classic signs of addiction include things like an inability to stop using the substance or when the use of that substance begins to interfere with your life and relationships. When it comes to kids and screens, the symptoms aren’t all that different. Here are the red flags to watch for that suggest your kid might have a screen addiction.
1. Your child can’t control their screen use

The researchers call this “unsuccessful control,” when kids have trouble stopping using devices. If you’ve tried to impose limits on screen time, but your kiddo just couldn’t deal, this could be an issue.
2. Loss of interest in othe...