Let’s face it: electronic devices are captivating children’s attention like never before. While technology offers numerous educational benefits, such as promoting language and listening skills, studies have shown that excessive screen time can have adverse effects on children’s health and development. In fact, research published in JAMA Pediatrics identified a link between excessive screen time in a child’s first year and lower cognitive skills later in life. As such, it’s important to moderate and manage children’s screen time to ensure they establish a healthy relationship with technology.
Despite being obvious, it’s worth mentioning, us parents need to lead by example. We as adults are always so preoccupied with our own busy lives, that our heads are often buried in our own mobile or handheld devices’ screens. So how can we ask our children to take heed of our advice when it’s contradictory?
Sure, there’ll always be something intriguing to do on our phone or tablet, even if not work related. We’re sure you’ve come across some cool online casino advertising great offers, like Winks Slots Casino, with their tempting £600 Match Bonus accompanied by 50 free spins. True, a hard-to-ignore offer, but when it comes to limiting screen time, we should practice what we preach!
Don’t worry we’ve got you covered. Follow our helpful tips so you can strike a healthy balance between digital engagement and a well-rounded childhood experience.
1. Practice What You Preach
I know we’ve said it before, but we need to say it again: you can’t expect your children to control their technology use if you can’t either. Children often learn by observing and imitating the behavior of the adults around them, especially their parents. As such, if parents want to teach their kids to have a healthy relationship with technology and manage their screen time effectively, they need to practice what they preach and lead by example.
2. Consistency Is Key
If you’re going to establish strict rules around your children’s screen time, then you need to enforce them and not back down. Giving into your children’s pleas will only lead to confusion and undermine the importance of the rules you have set. You need to stand your ground and remember that giving into your children, even just once, is a slippery slope. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) even recommended that children under the age of 2 should not be exposed to screens at all, while children between the ages of 2 and 5 should only be limited to one hour a day or less.
3. Create Screen-Free Zones
One way to help control your children’s technology use is to establish technology-free zones across your house. That means whether it’s in the bedrooms, kitchen, or even dining room, children cannot use any forms of technology when they are in those rooms. This will help to limit their screen time, especially during family meals, which can offer great opportunities to improve their conversation skills, and before bed, without disrupting their sleeping patterns.
4. Encourage Alternative Activities
Children, especially those below the age of 5, need to be stimulated or else they will act out. As such, parents need to do their best to introduce their kids to a variety of different activities to keep them off their screens, such as painting, reading, and physical play. Try organizing family outings to the beach or the park if the weather is nice or a family game night so you can broaden your children’s horizons outside the realms of technology.
5. Use Parental Controls
There are various tools, such as parental controls, available on the market to prevent your kids from accessing technology. These can come in the form of built-in settings, which you will just need to activate, or apps you can download to restrict screen time, content, and app usage. We also suggest never giving your children access to passwords so that they can never use technology without you being present.
6. A Privilege Not A Right
You need to help your children understand that screen time is a privilege, not a right, and can be taken away at any given moment. Reframing their mindset around technology will allow them to savor the time they get to enjoy it and not overindulge. It’s important, however, that once you’ve set a limit on how much screen time is allowed, you cannot reward your children with additional time for good behavior. You need to stick to your rules and not waver.
7. Know What’s Out There
There’s no denying that today’s kids are tech-savvy, with many of them knowing more about electronics than most adults. That’s why parents need to stay on top of the latest technology trends whether it’s new platforms such as Threads or dangerous internet challenges, so they can help educate their children on what they need to be aware of and the harm that it can cause.
8. Be Realistic
When it comes to cutting down your kids screen time you can’t go cold turkey or they will react badly and it won’t be fun for anyone. Start off by setting more attainable goals such as one or two hours less per day, and see how that goes. If you see them responding well to the changes then you can try to cut as much time as you see fit.
9. Explain Why You’re Doing This
Your children will be more likely to respond to restrictions on their screen time if you explain why you are doing it. Host a family discussion and bring to light all the negative consequences that can come from excessive technology use, such as poor attention spans and social skills. This will help your children understand your motives and hopefully appreciate why you are imposing these rules.
Luciana joined our team as a mum blogger in 2020. A dedicated mum to a lively daughter and a dog, Luna, Luciana brings authenticity and passion to every post. Her expertise in parenting and lifestyle topics offers practical, relatable advice for real-life situations.