- Trusted by Over 2000 Schools Nationwide
- Top-Rated PD Provider ★★★★★ 4.77
- Save with our Kits & Packages – Shop Now! →
Did you know that the average screen time for children ages 8 to 18 is 7.5 hours per day? That’s 114 days a year.
Sources indicate that children ages 0-8 spend almost 3 hours per day in front of screens. Children ages 8-10 have an average screen time of 6 hours per day, and children ages 11-14 spend a whopping 9 hours a day on screens.
In today’s tech-driven world, screen time for kids has become an unavoidable part of everyday life, especially in schools where curricula may rely on digital platforms.
While digital tools offer convenience and accessibility, educators and parents are growing increasingly concerned about the effects of excessive and passive screen time for children. From eye strain and attention issues to reduced physical activity and impaired social development, the consequences of too much screen time for children are significant.
As schools search for effective ways to limit children’s screen time without compromising educational content, many are turning to an evidence-based alternative: movement-based learning. By integrating physical activity into academic instruction, schools can address the adverse effects of screen time while unlocking a wider range of academic, physical, and socio-emotional benefits.
Innovative programs like Math & Movement offer schools a practical solution to limiting children’s screen time. Kinesthetic teaching resources cultivate active learning environments that support holistic child development. Find out how to cut down on all those hours spent in front of screens and empower students to thrive academically and physically.
As technology continues to shape the classroom, schools are being called to re-evaluate screen time for children in meaningful, developmentally appropriate ways.
Professional organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), World Health Organization (WHO), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offer clear guidance on children’s screen time across different age groups:
Not all screen time is created equal. When thoughtfully selected and appropriately applied, digital resources can support learning. High-quality engagement with a device is:
Conversely, content that is fast-paced, violent, excessively distracting, or saturated with ads should be avoided.
The U.S. Department of Education encourages educators to prioritize active use of technology over passive use. Active use involves critical thinking and highly interactive tasks. On the other hand, passive use involves filling out worksheets or consuming digital content without further thought, reflection, or interaction.
While flexibility is appropriate for older children, quantitative limits on screen time remain especially important for those aged 2–5. Early childhood is a period of rapid brain development, and excessive screen exposure can interfere with sensory, motor, and social-emotional growth.
To best support students across grades, schools can adopt a tiered approach to screen use:
Technology creates new educational opportunities for kids, but it’s important not to rely on it as the primary educational method. As a response, an increasing number of educators are turning to movement-based learning. This approach helps limit children’s screen time, foster deeper engagement, and boost academic outcomes. By integrating physical activity into everyday instruction, educators can turn passive time into meaningful, full-body learning.
Embodied learning recognizes that physical experience is central to how children think, remember, and understand. This approach considers that cognitive processes are not confined to the brain alone and that our physical interactions with our environment are crucial to the learning process.
Imagine students jumping along a large number line to practice addition and subtraction. The whole-body movement allows students to internalize academic concepts in a tactile, engaging way. Unlike passive screen time for kids, movement stimulates curiosity, fuels motivation, and encourages students to fully participate in their own learning.
Movement-based instruction also aligns with the constructivist theory of learning, which emphasizes that children build knowledge through experience. By using physical activity as a learning tool, educators create opportunities for students to investigate, experiment, and reflect in real time. Active learning strategies help children bridge gaps in understanding and provide them with tools to construct knowledge in ways that stick.
Movement is not just a “brain break” or reward – it’s a core, evidence-based component of effective instruction. It offers a powerful pathway to limit children’s screen time while elevating the overall quality and impact of learning.
Ready to bring movement-based learning to your core subjects? Discover our Math and Literacy Kits, designed to ignite engagement and boost student achievement.
Our kits supplement your curriculum and provide comprehensive resources for:
Movement-based learning activities can not only limit children’s screen time but also support the whole child – cognitively, physically, emotionally, and socially.
Neuroscience supports the effectiveness of movement-based learning. Physical activity increases oxygen levels in the blood and blood flow to the brain. As a result, the brain can function at optimal levels for learning.
Additionally, movement stimulates the brain to produce a protein called BDNF, which supports the development of new neurons and their connections. Physical activity also supports the growth of the hippocampus, a region of the brain responsible for learning and memory.
In terms of retention, research from the National Training Laboratories found that learners retain up to 75% of information when actively participating in a task, compared to only 10% through passive methods like reading an article on the computer.
That said, movement can absolutely enhance learning. Multisensory input boosts comprehension and memory, making lessons more effective and meaningful.
Further research indicates that movement-based teaching strategies lead to better grades and improved attendance. By making abstract concepts tangible, like hopping along a multiplication grid or clapping syllables, movement helps students grasp difficult material in a way that’s accessible and memorable. It transforms academic tasks into interactive experiences, helping to counterbalance the less productive effects of prolonged screen time for children.
Want to head deeper into the research and results behind Math & Movement? Explore our Program Data page to see how schools across the US are transforming student achievement with our kinesthetic learning strategies.
Physical inactivity is one of the most pressing concerns in today’s classrooms. On average, elementary school students sit for 8.5 hours each day. At age 8, children’s activity levels drop even further and continue to decline throughout adolescence. Alarmingly, only 20–28% of kids ages 6 to 17 meet the U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines of 60 minutes of daily physical activity.
According to The Journal of Pediatrics, children who meet physical activity and screen time recommendations are the least likely to be overweight. Programs that pair screen time reduction with physical activities can lower childhood obesity rates.
Movement-based learning also supports the development of fine and gross motor skills, improves posture and balance, and helps students maintain healthy energy levels throughout the day.
The benefits of movement extend beyond academics and fitness. Physical activity stimulates the release of mood-boosting neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. These chemicals help students manage anxiety and stress. As a result, movement leads to calmer and more focused behavior in the classroom.
Group movement activities also promote communication, cooperation, and teamwork, fostering a greater sense of belonging and social connection. Completing physical challenges can significantly boost self-esteem and resilience.
In contrast, excessive screen time for kids has been linked to sleep disruptions, weight gain, behavioral issues, and mental disorders. These challenges often compound, creating a cycle that’s difficult to break. A holistic, movement-focused learning approach helps address these interconnected issues at their root, offering students the support they need to grow and succeed.
Creating meaningful change around screen time for kids requires clear priorities and practical steps. School leaders play a big role in how digital tools are used in their schools and how movement can be incorporated into instruction.
By promoting balanced, developmentally appropriate learning environments, administrators can support students’ academic growth while effectively limiting children’s screen time and improving their overall well-being.
Supporting kinesthetic learners does not require an entire curriculum rewrite. Even short physical activity breaks—just 5 to 10 minutes—can recharge young minds and boost classroom engagement.
Active math movements are Math & Movement’s short exercise breaks for practicing counting. They do not require any materials; All you need is your students’ bodies, energy, and imaginations!
Most of our active math movements are cross-body movements, meaning they engage both sides of the brain. These movements energize minds while enhancing math skills.
Get started with these quick movements by downloading our FREE Training Manual. The PDF includes over 250 active math movements that teachers can begin with their students immediately!
Want to get started with movement-based learning right now? Enter your email to get our training manual with over 250 active math movements. No materials necessary!
See how simple adding movement can be!
Related Reading: Exercise Snacks for Kids: Increase Physical Activity in Schools
When screens are used, they should support interactive and purposeful learning, not passive consumption. School policies can guide tech use by:
Encouraging media literacy helps students learn to use technology thoughtfully. There’s a balance between screen time for kids and hands-on, full-body activities.
Families are key partners in the effort to limit screen time for children. Schools can build trust and alignment by:
Since schools account for a large portion of children’s daily screen time, it’s important for school leaders to collaborate with parents to establish comprehensive, developmentally informed tech-use practices.
Successful implementation of movement-based learning strategies starts with strong leadership. School leaders must emphasize its importance through their actions and communications.
Building a school-wide support system includes:
Schools can lead the way in limiting children’s screen time while unlocking a future of healthier, more engaged learners.
Excessive and passive children screen time poses challenges to attention, health, and engagement, but movement-based learning strategies are an incredible solution. Math & Movement is here to help every school incorporate these evidence-based practices into their daily routines.
Designed to align with kinesthetic and embodied learning principles, Math & Movement combines physical activity with academic content to create enjoyable and inclusive learning experiences. Students can get out of their seats and jump, step, trace, and skip while practicing core math and literacy skills. This approach actively limits children’s screen time by offering powerful alternatives that are equally effective and far more engaging.
Math & Movement’s kinesthetic learning products, including floor mats and stickers, allow teachers to increase physical activity throughout the school day. These hands-on, play-based resources engage various learning styles, supplement the core curriculum, and counteract the sedentary habits often reinforced by screen-based instruction.
Our program also offers comprehensive virtual and in-person training and an online activity database. With ready-made, curriculum-aligned materials, schools can bypass common barriers to implementation and begin seeing results quickly, academically and behaviorally.
By strategically weaving movement into instruction and embracing solutions like Math & Movement, schools can create dynamic learning environments that engage the body and the mind. This holistic strategy doesn’t just help limit screen time for kids—it prepares them for a future of lifelong learning, curiosity, and well-being.
Ready to transform your school’s approach to learning? Shop Math & Movement’s materials today and take the first step toward cultivating confident, active learners.
Yes, parents should limit children’s screen time appropriately for their age. Follow guidelines from credible sources, including the AAP, WHO, and CDC. Excessive screen time for kids has been linked to sleep disruptions, weight gain, behavioral issues, and mental disorders.
Excessive screen time for kids can result in:
Screen time is considered excessive when it:
Parents and educators should prioritize high-quality, purposeful use of electronic devices.
Try incorporating kinesthetic, hands-on learning activities into your routine. The average elementary student sits for 8.5 hours a day. Movement-based learning can reduce this number while improving children’s physical health, promoting positive behavioral and socio-emotional development, and boosting academic outcomes.
Math & Movement pairs academic instruction with physical activity. The program supplements an existing curriculum by encouraging students to move and engage kinesthetically with their learning products, including floor mats and stickers. Instead of sitting looking at screens or listening to a lecture, students are up out of their seats and exploring concepts physically.
Suzy Koontz, CEO and Founder of Math & Movement, has spent over 25 years helping students achieve academic success. She has created over 200 kinesthetic teaching tools adopted by schools nationwide and has authored over 20 books. As a sought-after national presenter, Suzy shares how movement can transform the way students learn.
Movement isn't just for recess
Want to get started with movement-based learning right now? Enter your email to get our training manual with over 250 active math movements. No materials necessary!
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
We never share or sell your data.
Please leave your email and a quick note for us. We will get back to you soon! In the meantime, here are answers to some of our most common questions:
Enter your email to get our training manual with over 250 active math movements. No materials necessary!
We never share or sell your data.
