DUBLIN, Ireland: New research shows that nearly nine out of ten parents are worried about the time their children spend on digital devices.

Many parents are concerned about the effects of too much screen time on their children's health and well-being. They worry especially about the time children spend on phones, tablets, or computers outside school hours and during school holidays.

Research by Sherpa Kids Ireland found that about 30 percent of primary school children use digital devices for two hours or more each day during the school week.

The number increases a lot during school holidays, when 66 percent of children spend two hours or more a day on devices.

Most parents in the survey (91 percent) said that activities and programmes outside school help reduce their child's screen time.

Jennifer Lee, CEO of Sherpa Kids Ireland, said that structured after-school programmes are an important way to balance children's screen use with physical activity, social interaction, and creative play. She added that spending time with other children in group settings is very important for their social and emotional development.

Childcare services for school-age children — such as breakfast clubs and after-school or homework clubs — are becoming more important for families in Ireland. These programmes give children a safe place to learn, play, and develop through physical activities, wellbeing programmes, creativity, and games.