Kids might love their tablets and smartphones, but they don’t love them back—especially when it comes to bedtime.
A recent study led by researcher Jennifer Falbe at the University of California at Berkeley’s School of Public Health reveals that these devices impact the amount of rest kids get each night, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times.
Fourth-graders and seventh-graders who slept near a small screen—such as phone or other portable device—averaged 20.6 minutes less sleep than those who did not have one in their bedroom, the study found.
In addition, children with televisions in their bedroom reported sleeping 18 fewer minutes of weekday sleep than those without.
While having either type of screen in the bedroom shortened sleep time, only those with small screens nearby reported having poorer rest.
“I don’t think that all screen time is ubiquitously bad, but definitely recreational screen time should be limited,” Falbe says. “Parents can set a screen or device curfew one hour before bedtime.”
