096 - How Much is Too Much? Signs of Screen Time Overuse in Kids

Feb 11, 2025

Join Dr. Paul Filomeno, an addiction medicine specialist and pediatrician, who tackles the pressing issue of kids’ screen time. He reveals warning signs that indicate screen time may be excessive, such as irritability and behavioral changes. Learn about age-appropriate guidelines and how to create a realistic media plan that works for your family. Dr. Paul emphasizes the importance of selecting high-quality content and offers practical tips to model healthy screen habits. It's an essential listen for parents navigating the digital landscape!

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INSIGHT

Behavioral Red Flags Of Overuse

Excessive screen use shows up as irritability, withdrawal-like behavior, and neglect of basic tasks.
Paul Filomeno links these changes to impacts on sleep, behavior, and family relationships.

ADVICE

Assess Function, Not Single Events

Look at how the child functions across days and whether basic routines are neglected.
Use the child's response to parental regulation attempts as a marker for problematic screen use.

ADVICE

Trust Parental Concern

Trust your parental instincts if screen time already bothers you and don't dismiss those concerns.
Your discomfort often signals something worth addressing in your child's media use.

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Are you worried about your child’s screen time? How much is too much?

In this episode of the Discerning Parenting Podcast, we’re joined by addiction medicine specialist and pediatrician Dr. Paul Filomeno, founder of Healthy Screens PH. Dr. Paul brings both his expertise and personal experience as a dad to help us understand when screen time becomes problematic and how to create a healthy media balance for our kids.

We dive deep into:

The warning signs that screen time may be too much
Distinguishing between healthy and unhealthy screen use
Age-appropriate guidelines for screen time (and making them work in real life!)
Choose high-quality content for your child

If you've ever felt guilty about screen time or struggled to set limits, this episode is for you. Discover how to take small, realistic steps to create a balanced media plan for your family without power struggles or guilt.

Resources Mentioned:

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About Dr. Paul:

As a dad to a young child, Dr. Paul has a deep passion for pioneering studies on behavioral addictions in children and adolescents, including screen time and substance use. As the founder of Healthy Screens PH, he is committed to advancing research and practical strategies to address the growing concerns of both digital and substance-related addictions in the pediatric population. His work emphasizes the development of effective, culturally sensitive approaches to managing addiction issues in young people. He is also a certified Gaming and Gambling Addiction Specialist, having completed his certification at Asia Metropolitan University (AMU) in Malaysia. He currently serves as a consultant in Addiction and Recovery Medicine and Pediatrics at the Philippine General Hospital.

Booking Link:
https://seriousmd.com/doc/paul-lawrence-filomeno

Viber/SMS/Telegram: +63 949 4385188

Clinics:
St. Claire Medical Center (Makati)
Kindred Health PH (Taft)
San Juan de Dios Medical Center

🔗 Related Episodes:

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The Discerning Parenting Podcast is a free informational resource for parents. As a valued listener, you acknowledge that any information you get from this podcast is for your general guidance only, and must never be considered a substitute for the advice provided by a doctor, therapist, or other qualified medical professionals who know your child specifically. Read our full disclaimer policy here.