Opinion: The five Ds of screen time

Screens. Back in the day, if we said that kids were spending too much time in front of the screen, we meant the “boob tube,” the derisive sobriquet for television. Now “screens” can mean the computer, cell phone, or — even after decades of reality TV and other trash — television. This past summer, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published an advisory from the office of the Surgeon General regarding the harm of too much screen use, especially among our children and teens. Surgeon General’s advisory According to the report, “As the Nation’s Doctor, the Surgeon General provides Americans with the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and reduce their risk of illness and injury.” In the past, these advisories prompted us to quit smoking, reduce our calorie intake, and consume alcohol in moderation.

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