It's toys vs. tech in 'Toy Story 5.' Here are 4 ways to keep tech in check this summer

Children's Health It's toys vs. tech in 'Toy Story 5.' Here are 4 ways to keep tech in check this summer June 19, 20265:00 AM ET By  Rhitu Chatterjee Cowgirl Jessie and her horse Bullseye face off against Lilypad in Disney and Pixar's Toy Story 5. It opens in theaters on Friday, June 19. Disney/Pixar hide caption toggle caption Disney/Pixar The much anticipated summer movie Toy Story 5 features a battle between toys and tech — a plot likely to resonate with parents who see the pull of digital devices in their kids' lives, especially during the summer. And that's not just a parental perception: Research clearly shows that screen time goes up dramatically during the summer. Book Reviews A kids' guide to phone-free fun, from the author of 'The Anxious Generation' "For kids, 7 to 12, they are using and spending more time on their screens, about 30% more, which is equivalent to about four more hours per week compared to school time," says Lauren Lee, a psychologist at Aura, an online safety company that compiled a very detailed report about kids' online lives based on data from nearly 30,000 devices. For the latest stories on the science of healthy living, subscribe to NPR's Health newsletter. Aura gathered information through its parental control app that accesses children's and parents' devices and through surveys with parents and children around the country. It found that 75% of children ages 7 to 11 years old said that they would rather watch videos than play with toys. Sponsor Message It's a statistic at the heart of the Toy Story 5 plot, where 8-year-old Bonnie starts to ignore her beloved toys after her parents give her a "Lilypad" tablet that's the new social capital. Bonnie's favorite toys, Jessie and Bullseye, want her to make friends. Disney/Pixar hide caption toggle caption Disney/Pixar "Summer is a particularly vulnerable period for higher screen use," says pediatrician Dr. Jason Nagata, who was not involved in the Aura study. Nagata, who researches onl...