Getting Kids To Unplug In The Digital Age

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MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami/AP) — Parents are supposed to limit the amount of time their children spend looking at screens.

That can be a challenge in today's digital age where some parents are even giving toddlers their own devices.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children two and over be limited to just two hours a day in front of screens. They should be avoided completely for children under two.

Cherry Tunsmith said that's kind of hard in today's high-tech world. Her daughter Freye is just two years old and already has her own iPad.

"Part of me is if I limit her completely then she will be behind in school, because these days everyone is on iPads, using computers," said Smith.

A study from BabyCenter.com found one out of three parents give their kids their own tablet by the age of five and eight percent buy them their own smart phone.

"It's a challenge for everybody to navigate the digital age," said Dr. Ari Brown with the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Brown says the academy realizes the challenge today's parents fact and they are updating their guidelines to better reflect the modern age. Those changes will come in the Fall. For now, she said parents must understand its important for young kids to unplug.

"Have tech free zones," said Brown. "Tech free zones might be meals times and definitely the bedroom."

Studies have shown that excessive media use can lead to attention problems, sleep disorders and obesity.