ATLANTA (Diya TV) — Calls are growing louder for children to spend less time on screens and more time with books, as educators and health leaders highlight the risks of excessive device use.
At Cherokee Classical Academy, Second Lady Usha Vance urged students to put down their phones and pick up books. She described reading as a way to counteract the hours kids spend glued to electronic devices.
Health experts are voicing similar concerns. Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, president of the American Medical Association, told Fox News Digital that parents need to take an active role. He warned that too much screen time for children can disrupt healthy sleep, raise risks for anxiety and depression, and reduce physical activity.
These warnings echo a wider push for low-tech learning environments. Across the country, more schools and states are adopting new restrictions on classroom devices. The goal is to help students focus and foster healthier study habits.
For Vance, the issue goes beyond policy. She shared that her own middle child’s eagerness to learn to read pushed her to explore how reading is taught. That journey opened her eyes to widespread literacy challenges in the United States.
“It took me down a rabbit hole of trying to understand how one teaches reading,” Vance said. She explained that the experience inspired her to launch the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge, a program designed to spark a love of reading among students.
Vance also encouraged young readers to challenge themselves with more difficult material. “It’s wonderful to pick up things that are just a little harder and that require you to focus just a bit more,” she said.
The push for low-tech classrooms is not new, but it is gaining momentum. Advocates argue that reducing screen time in schools helps students concentrate better and develop stronger reading and writing skills. Supporters also note that traditional books encourage deeper thinking compared to fast scrolling on social media.
Doctors add another layer to the debate. Research shows that children who spend more time reading or engaging in offline play have better sleep patterns and improved mental health. Screen time limits, they argue, are not just about education but also about long-term wellness.
Mukkamala stressed that parents need to monitor how often their children use phones, tablets, or computers. “Too much screen time for young people can interfere with healthy sleep, increase risks for anxiety and depression, and reduce physical activity,” he said.
Experts agree that technology is not the enemy. Devices can be powerful tools for learning when used in moderation. However, balance is key. The concern arises when screens replace time spent on reading, exercise, and face-to-face social interactions.
Schools are now experimenting with different strategies. Some restrict smartphone use during school hours. Others promote reading challenges or set aside daily “unplugged” time to encourage students to focus on books.
Parents are also finding ways to set boundaries at home. Experts recommend creating screen-free zones, such as bedrooms or family dinner tables, to help children unplug. Many families are turning to summer reading programs, like the one Vance is leading, to make books an appealing alternative.
The growing movement reflects a broader cultural shift. As technology becomes more present in daily life, educators and doctors are urging families to rethink how much time children should spend online.
Advocates say the message is simple: Reading builds skills that screens cannot replace. Strong literacy lays the foundation for future learning, career success, and mental resilience. By encouraging children to choose books over endless scrolling, schools and parents hope to nurture a healthier, more balanced generation.
The debate is far from over, but momentum is building. With leaders like Vance championing literacy and health experts sounding alarms about screen overuse, the call to unplug is becoming harder to ignore.
