For many children, school has taken place on a laptop or tablet for more than a year.
Now that classrooms across the Bay Area are back open, do we need to go back to limiting kids' screen time?
"I think there are a lot of controversies around screen time," Dr. Petra Steinbuchel, Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Portal, told KCBS Radio's "As Prescribed" on Thursday. "The American Academy of Pediatrics used to recommend a limit of no more than two hours a day, but has revised that more recently to look at what is really working for your child and also what is the overall balance."
When trying to determine a healthy routine for your children, Dr. Steinbuchel suggested asking these questions: "Are you getting enough sleep? Are you getting enough nutritious food? Are you getting outside and/or moving your body in some way and are you able to get all of your work done that you need to? And are you socializing with friends?"
On the last point, since the pandemic is not over, socializing with friends might still be a virtual experience.
"Video games can play a role in connecting kids with other kids, and especially if they are quarantining at home, then this might be a way to connect," said Dr. Steinbuchel.
While the negative effects of "zoom school" on many kids have been well-documented Dr. Steinbuchel said it is important to remember that some children actually preferred learning from home.
"Some kids have done really well with distance learning and have actually in some ways have done better," she said. "Because they haven't had the classroom distractions or the social anxiety that they usually do."
She said it's important for families and school staff to remember that the transition back to the classroom will be tough for many kids.
Good communication, established routines and clear schedules can help, along with an understanding that academic performance might not be the top priority right away as students readjust to being back in-person.
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