America's children are struggling. Many are overweight, depressed, and anxious. The Trump administration says too much screen time is a major cause.

Last week, top federal health officials met with tech executives and state leaders. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attended. So did NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and Medicare chief Dr. Mehmet Oz. They created the 5 D's: discuss, do, delay, divert, and disconnect.

The Surgeon General released a free parent toolkit. A children's book called "The Magic Tablet" was created for families to read together.

Dr. Stephanie Hirodopoulos speaks for the U.S. Surgeon General. She said the problem is urgent.

"They are so vulnerable," she said. "So we had to sound the alarm."

The numbers she cited are striking. By 2050, 40 out of every 100 children may struggle to see things far away. That rise is linked to staring at screens up close. Many children are also overweight. Screen time keeps kids sitting still and crowds out physical activity.

Mental health is suffering too. Anxiety and depression are rising. Attention problems and memory issues are growing. Test scores are falling. Hirodopoulos tied all of this to heavy screen use.

The administration pointed to real early wins. Forty states now have some form of classroom phone ban. Most major tech companies attended the Live Real Life forum. Families are cooking healthier meals as the MAHA message spreads.

One big name skipped the event. Google's YouTube was not there.

The biggest development came from Meta, which runs Facebook and Instagram. Meta agreed to pay $17 billion to 51 states and territories. The settlement resolves claims that Meta made its products addictive to children. Meta also agreed to turn off push notifications for teenagers during school hours.

Kennedy urged the rest of the tech industry to follow.

"Children spend enormous amounts of their waking time in technology ecosystems," he said. "That is why big tech has to act to protect our children."

Parents can start using the 5 D's tonight. Talk to your kids about limits. Plan more activities together. Delay giving young children devices. Divert their attention to sports, books, or outdoor time. Put phones away at night for better sleep.

The Surgeon General's toolkit is free. Families do not need Washington to act first. Choices made at home today will shape children's health for years to come.