New Framework Proposed to Bridge Screen Time Guidelines and Caregiver Practices for Young Children
A new three-layered ecological framework, accompanied by the SMART protocol, has been proposed to bridge the gap between institutional screen time guidelines for preschoolers and the practical realities faced by caregivers. Current guidelines often focus on duration controls, content, and context, but compliance remains low, with only 35.6% of children under five adhering to them. This disparity is attributed to contemporary lifestyle demands, busy parental schedules, and limited urban spaces, which often lead to screens becoming a default childcare solution. The proposed framework aims to provide actionable guidance, moving from theoretical recommendations to practical, step-by-step execution for caregivers across diverse socioeconomic statuses and environmental constraints.
