Influencing factors

Over the past two decades there has been a dramatic increase in the number and types of factors influencing a child’s activity, including their screen time. The ecological model can help us understand these multiple factors.

In Week 2, we were introduced to the ecological model developed by Sallis and Bauman (2012). We used this model to identify factors influencing a child’s physical activity. Similarly, it can be used to identify factors that contribute to the type and amount of screen time that young children engage with.

The ecological model (Click to expand)

In this video we consider a range of factors that influence screen based activities for young children.

Conversation starter

• Share a personal/individual, social or environmental factor that you think is a big influence on the screen time of children in your community.