You care about your child’s well-being and accomplishments more than anyone else can. In the present world, which is driven by the internet and technology, this means helping them navigate not only the physical world but also the one online. It’s important to teach your kids how to use the internet positively and develop the skills and habits that will help them become responsible digital citizens. Whether you’re dealing with toddlers who seem to grasp the iPad better than you do, or teenagers who need some reasonable freedom, i’ll guide you through effectively integrating technology into your family’s life at every stage.
With screens being almost everywhere, it can be tough to keep track of how much time your kids spends infront of a screen. It gets more complicated because some screen activities can help kids learn and socialize. So, how can you manage your child’s screen time? Here’s a simple guide to help you navigate your child’s use of screens and media.
The Issues with Too Much Screens
Too much time in front of screens and watching not-so-good shows can lead to:
– Getting overweight
– Not getting enough sleep or having a proper routine
– May influence kids to behave in troublesome ways
– Trouble developing social skills
– Exposure to R-rated and violent content
– Having a hard time paying attention
– Less time for learning
– Childhood Brain Developmental Disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Syndrome (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder
Remember, when kids are young, playing with a set plan is more important for their growing brains than using electronic gadgets. Toddlers learn better when they play and interact with family and other kids rather than screens.
For toddlers, certain types of screen time might be useful. For example, watching things with music, movement, and stories. By watching together, you can help your child understand what’s happening and use it in real life. But it’s important to remember that just sitting and watching shouldn’t replace reading, playing, or solving problems.
Creating Screen Time Rules
The American Academy of Pediatrics says that kids below 18 months old shouldn’t use screens except for video chats. If you let kids between 18- and 24 months old use screens, make sure what they’re watching is good quality and avoid letting them do it alone. For kids aged 2 to 5, limit screen time to one hour a day of good shows or programs.
As your child gets older, one set of rules might not work for everyone. You’ll have to figure out how much screen time is okay each day and what’s right for your child.
You could use the same rules for both real-life and online stuff. In both cases, play with your child, teach them to be kind, stay involved, and know who their friends are, and what they do together. And remember, what your child watches or uses on screens matters more than how much time they spend.
Best Ways to Make Good Use of Screentime
– Check out shows, games, and apps before letting your child use them. Websites like Common Sense Media rate and review content to help you choose what’s okay for your child’s age. It’s even better if you watch, play, or use these things with your child.
– Pick activities that get your child involved, instead of those that need only tapping or staring.
– Use settings that filter out expilict content on the internet.
– Stay close when your kid is using a device so you can see what they’re doing.
– Ask your child about what they’ve watched or played with during the day.
– When you watch with your child, talk about what’s happening and explain about ads and commercials.
– Avoid fast shows that young kids might not understand, violent stuff, and apps with too many distractions. Turn off ads in apps, because young kids might not tell the difference between ads and facts.
How to Avoid Excessive Screen Time in Kids
1. Embrace Screens Positively
Screens are here to stay, and it’s smart to see them as tools that can add value to your children’s lives. Use them to enhance learning, foster curiosity, and strengthen connections with loved ones. Familiarize yourself with online resources that aid learning and skill development.
2. Be an Example
Actions speak louder than words. This rule applies to managing screens and other aspects of parenting. Before guiding your kids, assess your screen time habits. Adults spend around nine hours daily on screens, just like teenagers. Before instructing your children, analyze your screen time using tools like Apple Screen Time or Google’s Family Link.
3. Begin Early
If your children are teenagers, it might be a bit late to significantly reduce screen time. Instead, shift your focus towards making their screen use more useful. But for younger kids, treat screen time like any other activity. Communicate with them about it, join them during screen time, and explain that you’ll be keeping an eye on their activities. Encouraging a healthy balance of family activities beyond screens can and should start early. Parents need to set clear expectations that their kids will explore activities away from screens to keep themselves engaged.
4. Communicate, Educate, and Engage in Screen Time
If you convey the idea that screen time is always negative or treat it like an unhealthy treat rather than a valuable meal, your kids might not pay attention. Teaching your kids how to use technology and manage screen time is a valuable skill. Participate in their activities by playing games together, being a part of their online interactions, and demonstrating how you use screens for work.
5. Identify the Challenge
Unite with your teenagers to face a common challenge – big technology companies that aim to keep you attached to your screens. Read Adam Alter’s book, “Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked,” together. This book can provide insights into how these companies capture your attention on screens.
6. Build a Balanced “Play Diet”
Children need playtime to learn and connect with others, and nowadays, many play options involve digital devices. However, both kids and grown-ups need to enjoy a mix of play activities, such as physical games, social interactions, creativity, and free play. Discover how to create a well-rounded “Play Diet” that includes more than just screen time for your kids.
7. Plan or Choose Screen Time Wisely
When kids start spending too much time on screens or using them inappropriately, parents should step in. For many families, setting a schedule for recreational screen use can be helpful. It’s often suggested that kids should have about one to two hours of screen time for fun activities each day. Another approach is curating, which involves working closely with your children to pick games, websites, and online things that match your rules.
8. Manage and Govern Devices
Make sure that young children ask before they use family games, computers, or gadgets. It gets trickier with older kids. A simple way could be to collect all cell phones and online stuff and keep them away at a certain time, while also turning off the internet at home. Without the internet and phones, your kids might naturally choose to stay away from screens.
9. Select and Apply Parental Controls
There are lots of useful tools that parents can use to manage how much time their kids spend on screens. Yet, many older kids can find ways to get around these controls. It’s important to keep your passwords private and learn some other ways to make these tools work well.
10. Think about Getting Help
If you see strong signs of a serious addiction, like spending too much time online or gaming, it might be time to get some help. This doesn’t happen very often, but if too much screen time starts causing problems at school, with friends, or taking care of themselves, it’s important to act. Find experts who understand addiction and teens. In some serious cases, staying in a treatment Centre might be needed, but it’s better to try other solutions first and think about this choice.
In today’s digital world, helping our kids use screens the right way is super important. We’ve talked about different ways to find a good balance. But being a parent is more than just making rules. It’s about talking openly, being involved, and showing good screen habits ourselves. Technology can help us learn and have fun, so let’s use it well. By taking part, setting limits, and asking for help from experts when needed, we’re preparing our kids to be smart online. We’re all on this journey together, guiding our kids to use screens and real-life stuff in a good way, positive, healthy, and impactful manner.
