Think playing on the iPad doesn't hurt your child's health? Think again. Nearsightedness among children 12 years old and older has increased from 25 to 42 percent due to the use of electronic devices. While you may not be able to eliminate screens all together, Jacquot says there are ways to protect your child from their damaging effects. First, encourage your child to enjoy some outdoor activities after school. Second, invest in glare-reducing screen covers. Third, implement Jacquot's 20-20-20 rule.
"Every 20 minutes look away at a distance of 20 feet for approximately 20 seconds," Jacquot says. "That gives the eyes a little bit of a break and can help avoid a lot of the problems that extreme exposure to tablets can cause."
