Kids younger than 18 months who are hanging out with a TV on in the background have poorer language development, possibly because their parents (watching the TV) don't talk to them as much. And at ages 2 to 5, spending two or three hours a day looking at a screen is associated with behavior problems, poor vocabulary, and delayed development.

It's also well known that in the tweens and teens, excess screen time is associated with anxiety, depression, lower academic achievement, and lower self-esteem.

Luckily, screen time can be beneficial — or at least less harmful. But that largely depends on what kind of media is being consumed. (Is it educational, reaffirming, and/or viewed with others in the room?)

It also depends on how Mom and Dad interact with digital technology around the kids. That's because parents' so-called "technoference" has an impact on kids' health and development too.

A recent review of 21 studies found a negative association between the amount of time parents spend looking at their screens when they're around their children and the kids' thinking skills, emotional stability, and ability to interact with other people.

Shift your attention from your screens and join your kids of every age on their journey of discovery and personal development, both intellectually and emotionally. Talk to each other, read together, share activities and sports. Have adventures, big and small.

The rewards are immediate and set the stage for your child's best future.

For great family projects and activities, check out the free newsletter at LongevityPlaybook.com.