When it comes to screen time use, set good examples for kids

Recent studies show that touchscreens can interfere with a child's sleep. Photo: AFP

My kitchen counter has changed a lot over the last six years. What used to be dedicated to a bowl of fruit, a coffeemaker, various papers, and mail that I haven’t gotten around to throwing away yet has become a mess of wires coiling back to one put-upon outlet.

A rotating set of smartphones, tablets, Bluetooth speakers, and headphones have made their way to the counter as well, pointing to a broader set of changes in the house. Our family, which includes a five-year-old and three-year-old tot, has a lot of mobile device stuff.