Screen time and screen content can negatively impact a child’s sleep

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- Did you know that swapping Batman for Big Bird could help your young child sleep better?

A new study of sleep habits among 565 preschool-aged children found that those who tuned in to age-appropriate educational programs were less likely to have sleep problems than those who watched sparring superheroes or slapstick scenes meant for slightly older kids.

Previous studies in children have linked violent videos to disrupted sleep, while also raising the risk of behavioral and emotional problems.

The study published Monday in the Journal “Pediatrics” adds to mounting evidence that screen time and screen content can negatively impact sleep. How exactly? The jury’s still out on that one.