Children spend a full year glued to screens by the time they reach seven.

The Irish Independent tells us that the average 10-year-old has at least five screens readily available to them at home, and over the course of childhood youngsters spend more time watching TV than they spend in school.

According to leading psychologist Dr Aric Sigman, limiting the amount of time children spend in front of a screen could have significant advantages for their health and wellbeing. The population’s vast use of games consoles, tablet computers, televisions, smartphones and laptops has been linked to obesity problems and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes, he warned.

Writing in the Archives Of Disease In Childhood, Dr Sigman said such extensive use could also lead to attention problems and other psychological difficulties.

The amount of time spent in front of a screen could also adversely affect children’s social relationships. He said many parents use the devices as “electronic babysitters” as a means to occupy their children. “Screen time appears to have created the three-parent family,” he added.

Dr Aric Sigman believes young people should spend no more than two hours each day in front of a TV, laptop, smartphone or games console. He argues excessive use could lead to attention problems and difficulty forming social relationships.

Psychologist Linda Papadopoulos says it’s about using common sense: