Does your child always finds a way to get a sneak on your mobile phone or just eager to open the tablet? I am sure in this modern world of technology, every parent always trying to find how to reduce screen time for children. Every family is having the battle of saving their kids from this addiction. We can’t deny the fact that screen has become the integral part of our lives. But then it has its own cons too. Anything if not used in an adequate way, it may show its harmful effects. Goes same with the screen, the more time spend on screen, the more difficult it is to leave it. The excessive time spend on screen may cause physical and mental damage.
In this post there are 10 ways to reduce screen time for kids, but these are not like antibiotic medicines. That one you eat and the problem goes away. These are some process that we should follow regularly in a long term. Its easy to get addiction but it requires lot of effort to get rid of that. So let’s get into the process and learn more.
How Screen Time Affects Children?
Technology is not harmful for us. It is indeed a boon for mankind till people use it wisely. Otherwise it takes no time to make people slave. A child who sees a smart phone, tablet and many more gadgets from their day one. They observe that the people around them are busy with these gadgets. And this make children curious to see what’s there in the phone. And then it is difficult to take away screen from them.
But this exposure to digital technology from early childhood has many disadvantages that can have serious affects on children like :
- Prolonged watching screen may cause eye fatigue, headache and reduce eye sight too.
- Physical activity takes a back seat when children spend lot of time in-front of screen and this make them lazy.
- Excessive screen time for children may lead to stress, anxiety and depression.
- Children spending much time on screen shows negligence towards their responsibility.
- Prolonged screen time for kids affect their mental development too.
- A child’s speech and communication may get delayed if engaged in screen for more than 1 hour in day.
What is a healthy screen time for a child?
In this world where virtual screens are getting much preferences, it is difficult to keep children away from screen. But then thinking about the adverse effects of too much screen time, it is important to monitor the screen time for children. Parents need to set a healthy screen time for children. It should be in mind that screen time should not be used as pacifier, as parents will find it challenging to get rid of this addiction. Therefore set a screen time for your child according to age.
According to American Academy Of Child And Adolescent Psychiatry untill 18 months there is no need to introduce screen to a child. For children above 2 years can watch maximum 1 hour per day with parent or guardian. Parents should monitor the internet usage of older child. If required use parental control for website to ensure your child should not see any unwanted videos from internet. With proper care and guidance children can make positive use of their screen time.
10 tips to reduce screen time for children.
1) Be a model
Kids do what they observe around us. Though parenting seems to be challenging but proper approach can make your job much easy. Children are like clay, you can mould it the way you want. So if you want your child to stay away from screen, you have to be like that. As kids do what they see not what they are told to do. Children get addicted to screen as they see it very regularly around them. People around kids are always into some gadgets. So spend time without screen with your kids. They will learn this to stay away from screen and use it whenever it is required. This way they will learn to value relationship too.
2 Create screen free zone at home
When you want your children to use less screen, your way of living should be according to that. It means there should be some screen free place in your house where you and your family can spend some leisure time without engaging in screen. Choose one area of your home that can be turn cozy and tech free, so that family members can unplug themselves for some time to rejuvenate and create more strong bond with each other. Encourage your child to spend time in this screen free zone to explore their hobbies or read books.
3 Engaging in physical activities
Children always want to do something as they have enormous energy in them. They get bored easily if they don’t find anything to do. And then they want to see digital screen to pass time. So to reduce screen time for children, you have to keep them engage in a healthy way. And the best way is to engage kids in physical activities. The more they are physically active, the better their lifestyle will be. Being physically active not only help physically but it also boosts mental and emotional health too.
4 Have some family time in a day without screen
We can’t blame children for watching excessive screen, as somewhere parents are responsible for this. It is often seen that due to busy schedule of parents, children feel lonely and they watch screen to get out of their loneliness. This leads to screen addiction for children. Hence try to out find out some time for family where everyone can pour their heart out with each other without any digital technologies. This can be any time in a day like during dinner time or evening. Having a family time is an organic way to divert children’s focus from screen and having an quality time with each other.
5 Set a routine
When there is a routine for kids that is followed consistently, they don’t expect anything out of that routine. They are aware of what tasks they have to do at which time. So set a routine for everything and then children will not throw tantrums to see screen. They know when they are allowed to see screen and when they have something else to do. It is always good for children to follow a routine to be disciplined in life with less stress and anxiety.
You may like to read : How To Discipline A Child In A Healthy Way
6 Keep away the distracting devices
As we know the saying out of sight is out of mind, and it is very true. Things when we don’t see in-front of us takes a back seat in our mind. So to keep children away from screen we need to keep the screen away from them. Yes, you are reading right. We need to keep all the digital gadgets away from their reach. If children don’t see any screen in-front of them, they will not have that much urge to see. Instead try to create small cozy reading corner that will attract them to read books.
7 Be consistent with allowed screen time
Parents play a vital role in setting a child’s expectations. Many times when parents are over occupied with chores they allow children to watch screen for a longer time. This helps parents but this also sets a child’s expectation to see screen for longer time. And when they are not allowed to see for that much time, they start throwing tantrums.
Therefore it is very important to be consistent with screen time. This will help children to understand how much time they are allowed to watch and that will be their habit too. Though sometimes it is difficult for parents to manage but there are many more better ways to engage kids other that screen. Like giving them art and craft supplies or any DIY project that can keep them engage for long time.
8 Explain the consequences of excess screen time
Children are naturally curious for everything. They thrive to know the cause for each and everything. So it is good to explain them why you are not allowing much screen time to them. Let them know the consequences of watching excessive screen. This will make them alert and will think before spending too much time on screen.
9 Don’t give kids their own gadgets
Now a days people are so drench in technology that parents forget the cons of over exposure of technology for their children. Parents offer personal gadgets to their children in a notion to make them smart. But excessive use of gadgets leads to addiction, that affects children’s lifestyle very badly. When kids have their own gadgets, being immature they misused it by watching some adult content on internet rather watching educational content. This is one of the most adverse effect of giving personal gadgets to children. So be watchful while allowing screen time to your children for their better development.
10 Encourage kids to spend more time outside
The generation before don’t have the problem regarding screen time. Its not that kids of that age don’t had fun. It just because kids used to spend a large amount of time outside and hence they don’t have any time left to feel bored. Therefore now also we should encourage our child to play real games with friends rather than playing video games inside. Visit some parks with them, explain the benefits of playing outside to your child. Spending time outside will help them to elevate their mood, reduce anxiety and stress. So expose your child to nature and this will automatically take their mind off from digital screen.
