Recreational screen time, including: - Television, videos, or movies
- Video games
- Other internet, such as tablets
- Social media and smartphones
| Goals vary by age[1]: - <2 years – Little or no screen time
- ≥2 years – Maximum 1 hour daily
| Household rules that may help to limit screen time: - Set a specific screen time limit, which applies to all family members
- No television viewing during meals
- No television in child's bedroom
- No smartphone in bedroom at night
- Develop a "Family Media Agreement" that outlines family rules and objectives for online and media use (example available from HealthyChildren.org in English and Spanish)[2]
- Include children/adolescents in the goal-setting process; this is important because caregivers cannot continuously monitor and enforce these rules
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Record type, frequency, and duration of: - Unstructured activity/active play
- Time outdoors
- Routine activity, such as walking to school, work, or chores in yard or house
- Spontaneous active games with friends and family
- Structured physical activity
- Sports
- Activity classes, such as dance, yoga, or martial arts
- Physical conditioning
| Goals vary by age: - Preschool-aged – ≥2 hours of unstructured activity daily[3]
- School-aged and older – ≥1 hour moderate or vigorous structured physical activity daily[4,5]
| Strategies to promote physical activity[6,7]: - Include family-based physical activity for modeling and encouragement ("game night," walks, hikes, family sports)
- Start with low-key recreational activities and progress to more structured, physically challenging activities as tolerated
- Offer options – Team-based or individual sports, coached or self-directed, competitive or noncompetitive
- Encourage children to participate in choice of activity
- A step counter (pedometer) may interest and motivate some children
- Consider physical activity levels when choosing daycare or afterschool programming
- Barriers to physical activity, including cost and access
- What opportunities are available (eg, school- or community-based programs or facilities)
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