Children as well as adolescents are spending too much time in front of the screen, and it's costing them their health, pediatricians say. According to Scientific American, children in the United States are spending approximately eight hours a day in front of some form of screen, whether it's a television set, computer or tablet. Furthermore, adolescents are spending up to 11 hours – almost half of their day – in front of a screen.

Too much time in front of these LCD screens has been associated with a number of poor health outcomes, including lack of physical fitness, obesity, trouble sleeping, Type 2 diabetes and more. These conditions may in turn cause other mental health issues. For example, obesity has been linked to emotional problems such as anxiety, depression, lack of self-esteem and body image issues. Diabetes is associated with a number of other physical ailments and can even be life-threatening if not properly managed.

Pediatricians and other health experts are also concerned about the behavioral and social ramifications that this time spent in front of the screen (rather than interacting and collaborating with peers) may cause.

How to create a media management plan in your home
In order to create an effective and responsible media usage plan for kids, it's important to know how they're already using their media. Are they spending hours surfing the net and interacting with social media – or are they surfing the television channels from your couch? Knowing what's already happening can help you share your household's plan.

So, what makes a good household media plan?

"A healthy approach to children's media use should both minimize potential health risks and foster appropriate and positive media use," said Marjorie Hogan, M.D., FAAP, co-author of the American Academy of Pediatrician's policy on children's media management. "Parents, educators and pediatricians should participate in media education, which means teaching children and adolescents how to make good choices in their media consumption."

The AAP recommends that kids spend no more than two hours each day on entertainment-based media. This includes watching television, playing video games on a console or tablet device, surfing the net and engaging in social media. Many children are required to use screens in school or as part of homework assignments, and this should be kept separate from your home's media usage limits.

Children should also be limited in where they use their devices. For example, the AAP suggests that children should never have a television in their room, as this allows kids to watch television when they might engage in other more productive or social activities. It may also encourage kids to watch TV late at night, which may cause problems sleeping.

Limiting kids' media usage and helping them to understand why can foster greater physical and emotional health in children, and will help instill better habits that may last for a lifetime.