In the Smirnov household, there are three iPads, five cell phones and three televisions.

Samantha, a mother of two from Maple Ridge, admits limiting screen time for her children is a real issue.

There is always an iPad charging and the television never turns off from the moment her children wake up to the moment they go to bed.

Ninety-nine per cent of the time there is a children害羞草研究所檚 television program on, as the Smirnovs do not watch any adult programming until their children are asleep. They do watch a lot of Netflix.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e probably watched Captain Underpants 10 times,害羞草研究所� Samantha sighed.

Leonardo, 5, and Dominik, 18 months, use all of the family害羞草研究所檚 devices and Samantha estimates they get at least five hours of screen time a day.

害羞草研究所淎nd that害羞草研究所檚 a day when we害羞草研究所檝e done stuff. If we害羞草研究所檙e at home all day, it害羞草研究所檚 probably double that,害羞草研究所� she said.

A lot of the time Leonardo, in particular, will be watching something on an iPad in addition to a program on the television.

Leonardo was diagnosed with autism.

害羞草研究所淗e is very high functioning. You would never know,害羞草研究所� said Samantha.

But Leonardo didn害羞草研究所檛 talk until he was almost three. The Smirnovs used the iPad to teach their son how to speak and Samantha says his improvement was great.

害羞草研究所淗e is now at a six-year-old level in speech in less than two years,害羞草研究所� Samantha said, crediting the iPad for his improvement.

The Smirnovs try to gear their children害羞草研究所檚 screen time to educational programming.

Canadian Paediatric Society recommendations, though are for less.

Dr. Ingrid Tyler, a Fraser Health medical health officer whose work is centred around the promotion of health and chronic disease prevention, is reminding parents that recommendations are that children over the age of six be limited to no more than two hours of screen time a day.

Those two to five years old should be limited to less than one hour of screen time a day, and children younger than two should be getting no screen time at all.

害羞草研究所淭he reasons for that is to ensure screen time does not interfere with other important activities. Mostly, those from my perspective, are sleep, physical activity and social connections,害羞草研究所� said Tyler.

害羞草研究所淲e do know that 40 per cent of youth say they get less than eight hours of sleep a night. And we do know that less than 20 per cent of youth are getting the recommended amounts of physical activity a day,害羞草研究所� Tyler added.

害羞草研究所淔or older kids, those over the age of six, we do know that increased screen time can worsen symptoms of depression and anxiety.害羞草研究所�

Other research about screen time shows that excessive exposure is associated with cognitive and social delays. Children with higher levels of screen time are at an increased risk for emotional problems and poorer family functioning.

Screen time in youth may influence symptoms of depression and anxiety, and there is a higher risk of depression when screen time exceeds two hours a day.

Using electronic devices near bedtime is associated with inadequate sleep quantity, poor sleep quality and excessive daytime sleepiness in children.

Tyler says parents should also role-model their own screen behaviour.

Tyler says there are ways to minimize screen time, including scheduling outdoor time every day so children get regular physical activity.

害羞草研究所淎lso, keep board games, books and puzzles around as an alternative,害羞草研究所� said Tyler.

She also suggested that parents keep a media diary to help track their family害羞草研究所檚 screen time.

The Smirnovs are getting an XBox 1 for Leo, who is in Kindergarten, so he can fit in and play games with his friends at school.

Samantha thinks the guidelines are unrealistic.

害羞草研究所淚 am not saying five hours a day is appropriate,害羞草研究所� but she said screens are everywhere, including at school, the doctor害羞草研究所檚 office and at the hospital.

Her solution so far has been to hide the devices or pretend she is charging them or even leaving them barely charged so they die after a certain amount of time.

害羞草研究所淭he biggest thing we do is we hide them all at night. Because if they are out, there is no chance of getting him to do anything that day,害羞草研究所� she said of Leo. 害羞草研究所淗e goes to it right away, first thing in the morning.害羞草研究所�

Samantha welcomes any tips on how to change her family害羞草研究所檚 current screen use.

害羞草研究所淭he dream is to change, but I don害羞草研究所檛 think it害羞草研究所檚 possible in our social environment.害羞草研究所�

Fraser Health is also promoting the Live 5-2-1-0 healthy living program, which includes eating five or more fruits or vegetables every day, no more than two hours of screen time a day, at least one hour a day of active play and zero sugary drinks.