Remember the time when you sat on the living room couch and quarrel with your siblings about which TV show you were going to watch? Those days are long gone, since kids today aren’t as nearly limited to spending time only in front of the screen as you were. Screens have changed, too and became smaller and mobile, so now kids can carry them around wherever they go, making it harder for parents to control the screen exposure. Technology has many perks, but it can also have negative effects on children if their lives start to revolve around gadgets. Here are some tips on how to limit your child’s screen time and show them other ways of having fun.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, school-aged children shouldn’t spend more than 2 hours in front of the screen every day. The reality is quite different from the ideal scenario, as children aged 8-18 spend a total of 7 and a half hours a day using a variety of media. The numbers are quite staggering and they can have a plenty of unwanted consequences on children’s health. Screen addicts have higher risks of becoming obese, find it hard to focus in school and can easily fall under the influence of the media, commercials, and propaganda. In contrast, limiting the time your kid spends in front of the screen has confirmed benefits. The study shows that limiting children’s screen time encourages improved behavior, sleeping more and scoring higher on school tests. Also, children who aren’t screen junkies are better skilled when it comes to reading human emotions.
Keep all technology in the shared areas
Remove TVs from the bedrooms and keep all tech devices in the rooms where the whole family spends their time, like the living room or kitchen. That way, you will have an insight into how much time your kid spends in front of the TV and the computer, what sort of programs they watch, and which websites they browse through. Additionally, don’t let your kids have their own smartphones or tablets at a very early age.
Set a good example
If you stare at your smartphone all the time, your kids won’t understand why they shouldn’t do the same. Forget about your phones when you interact with your kids and give them your undivided attention. If you want your kids to stick to the boundaries you’ve set, you need to do so as well.
A regular tech-detox
Introduce regular times when no screens are allowed, such as during the meals or before bedtime. That way, you’ll set clear rules that everyone has to follow and avoid outbursts when it’s time to turn off the TV. Make boundaries an integral part of screen time.
Friendships with pets
Moments shared with pets are extremely meaningful in a child’s life. Spending time with their favorite animals and taking care of them daily will not only help them become more empathic and disciplined, but it will also become one of their favorite activities that doesn’t involve gadgets. They can also discover how to find pet supplies online to provide their pets with proper care. What is more, you’ll save so much time that would otherwise be spent on going to every shop in town to find your pet’s favorite toy. Besides, this way your kids can put their Internet skills to a good use.
Spend some quality time together
Set a specific time of the week when no technology is allowed and when the entire family does something fun together. It can be anything, from biking and hiking to playing board games. Show your kids other, more productive ways to have fun and become more involved in their lives.
Technology is all around us and we can’t prevent it from developing even further, but we can manage the time our kids spend using it and prioritize other things to help them have a proper upbringing.
