Background

Evidence from Ontario and globally has associated pandemic-related stay-at-home orders, closures of schools and recreation with increased screen time for children and youth. Screen time is considered any time spent with an electronic device, and can be active (eg, video chatting, online learning) or passive (eg, watching television). Recommendations from pediatric societies and other associations typically recommend limits to screen time to promote healthy development. This brief explores evidence associating screen time with physical, cognitive and mental health outcomes in children and youth, as well as evidence-informed strategies to encourage screen use within guidelines as well as healthy screen habits. Increased screen time in children and youth during the COVID-19 pandemic necessitates considerations of ways in which policies can promote screen use within guidelines and mitigate impacts to children and youth of public health emergency responses.