Reading Time: 4 minutes
Are screens good for my child?Technology is moving at a pace which is hard even for the techies to keep up with. Children as young as 5 years old are more tech-savvy than their parents and toddlers in nappies are often exposed to hours of screen time a day as a source of entertainment and a means of relief for parents.
We can’t deny the positive aspects of technology and, in a digital era such as the 21st century, it’s simply unrealistic to altogether ban our children from watching screens and playing video games. The truth is, if our kids are not allowed screens at home, they’ll find the screens somewhere else…most likely as close as the child’s house next door.
The question we would like to focus on is not so much whether screens are good or bad but rather what is screen time replacing?
Before screens and virtual games were available, children had no other choice but to run around and entertain themselves by interacting with real-life children. Their energy was consumed in physical movement and when the day was through, their bodies were tired and ready to sleep.
Today, a shocking amount of children suffer from obesity, a lack of social skills, hyperactivity and restlessness. But it’s not just children, adults too are being swallowed by reality shows and fantasy worlds and are becoming extremely sedentary.
Here we’ve put together 9 quick tips to help you understand and reduce screen time at home and replace it with human time:
1. Be a good role model. Kids today are smart, sometimes too smart for their own good! As parents, we can’t get away with banning them from a video game while we sit in front of a tablet or sift through our Instagram feed. Our actions and words must be coherent. By limiting our own screen time we can make space to spend time with our kids. Kids love being outdoors so the more time we spend out the house the less our child will miss the screen.
2. Communicate. Children look for interaction. If there is no one around they can connect to, they will search for it online. Take the time to talk with your children and dive into their worlds. This will help them learn to read human emotions better and develop language skills. It is known that passive video presentations do not lead to language learning in infants and young toddlers.
3. Do your homework. In real life we take the time to get to know the parents of other children, we know which kids are a good influence, which ones we would rather avoid and we arrange playdates and set clear pick up and drop off times. In the online world, it’s just as important to know who our children are playing with. Get to know what your kids are watching and who your kids are playing with online. The internet is far bigger than our backyard and hosts far more dangers.
4. Quality over quantity. Though limiting daily screen time is without a doubt beneficial for our children’s health and well being, what is equally as important is focusing on the content of what they’re exposed to. There are a vast amount of documentaries, apps and educational platforms such as PrimaryLeap that can help foster creative thinking and challenge a young child’s brain. Take a moment to find something you and your children like. This helps children understand the importance of choosing wisely.
5. Don’t use technology as a pacifier. We know how tempting it is to plonk our children in front of the TV or hand them our smartphone when they’re becoming a bit of a handful but children need to learn other ways of calming down and entertaining themselves. Children need to learn how to handle strong emotions and come up with creative ways to tackle their boredom. Get creative too by finding fun games or books your children will love.
6. Play together. Dedicate some time each week for family time. Find board games you all enjoy or do a fun outdoor activity. These are the memories our children hold on to! If you also love video games, you can play a game together! It’s another chance to bond. Video games which require strategic thinking or body movement are great options.
7. Create media-free times and areas in your home. Each room has a designated purpose. The bedroom, for example, is a place to sleep, try making it a media-free zone, this helps your child’s brain and body understand that it’s time to sleep when it’s bedtime. Dinner times could be a media-free time and a family bonding space. It also encourages healthier eating habits.
8. Allow rest time. We all need time to disconnect from the day’s duties and our over-thinking minds; for many of us, that could mean sitting in front of a screen and watching a film. Children’s schedules are often packed with after school clubs and classes where they’re fed non-stop information. Allow your child to enjoy the fun side of technology too.
Limit screens before bedtime. Screen time later at night can interfere with sleep. It is advisable to not have a television in the bedroom and for parents to pay special attention to limiting nighttime device usage.
Reading Time: 4 minutes Are screens good for my child? Technology is moving at a pace which is
