As a parent, you spend a lot of time learning about your children's development. For example, you understand what "baby open gut" means and how it affects your baby's health. However, every day habits can be detrimental to your children's mental and physical well-being. For example, how much do you know about the effects of screen time?

Dangers of Elongated Screen Time in Your Child

For most kids, limited screen time is fine as long as the program is high-quality. Additionally, not all screen time is equal. For example, sitting on the couch watching a movie isn't as engaging as moving around while playing a virtual reality video game. As you set boundaries, consider your children's ages, activity level and risk of health problems such as obesity.

According to medical professionals, two hours is more than enough screen time for people of any age. Any more than that, your kids are at a higher risk of the following health problems.

Poor Posture

When people look at screens, they're usually sitting or lying down. They may bend their necks to see the screen properly. Over time, this position causes poor posture and sore necks and shoulders.

Obesity

Sedentary lifestyles are common in the U.S., but they can lead to obesity. Being overweight has many downsides:

• Higher risk of developing diabetes

• Higher blood pressure and poorer cardiovascular health

• Higher LDL cholesterol levels

Interrupted Sleep Schedule

Blue light interferes with the production of melatonin, a hormone that tells the body it's time for sleep. Screen time before bed can mean trouble falling asleep and poor quality rest. Insufficient sleep leads to a host of problems:

• Weight gain

• Increased risk of diabetes

• Higher chance of getting sick

It turns out the best baby immune support is a good night's sleep, so turn off electronic devices at least half an hour before bed.

Switching Out Screen Time for Other Activities

Fortunately, there are tons of fun, low-cost activities kids can do instead of watching television. The trick to getting your children engaged is trying lots of different hobbies until they find something they love. Once you discover their passions, you can steer them toward fulfilling, screen-free pursuits.

Reading

A good book provides entertainment without harsh blue light. Even though it's not a physical activity, it offers benefits that sitting in front of a screen doesn't:

• Improves creativity

• Improves language skills

• Supports cognitive development

There are hundreds of genres and subgenres, ensuring your children can find something that interests them. If your children are too young to read independently, you can read to them or take them to free storytime at your local library.

Sports

Sports are an excellent way to get kids outside and physically active. Team sports have the additional benefits of teaching social skills and providing a supportive community. If formal sports leagues aren't available, you can play catch or other games at the park.

If your children are used to a lot of screen time, cutting down can be challenging. However, just like switching schools, your kids will acclimate to the new rules. In fact, they may find hobbies they love even more than their favorite shows.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.