When we were kids, there were not many screens that could absorb our childhood. Yet now, our kids are attracted to one or the other screen all through the day. It’s either a television or a mobile or a tablet that constantly grabs their attention. Regrettably, screen time is not doing any good for our kids. There are compulsive reasons to limit screen time. Having said that, how can you manage your kids’ screen time? Here you go!
7 Ideas to Manage Your Kids’ Screen Time
We can neither blame ourselves nor our children for the technological advancement that is progressing at an infinite speed. Technology has become an invaluable element in our life. Everything is digital!
As adults, we need to engage digitally for most of our day. However, kids can still be kids without being harmed by this digitalization. Except for the pandemic situation where our kids are really in need of the internet to manage their education, do they have to be constantly distracted by any other screens?
Not necessarily. Children deserve to play, read, draw, sing, dance, explore, learn and enjoy with their friends. It becomes our obligation to gift them the ecstasy of childhood and stop the digital tools from intruding into their growing minds and tender hearts.
Here I will share seven ideas to keep your kids away from the screens needlessly.
1. Cut your unwanted digital time
Yes, to control our kid’s screen time the baby step will be to control our unwanted screen time. If we are working from home and our work is either with a laptop or a mobile then we cannot evade it.
But are we using our screens only for official purposes? Are we not watching any soap operas or scrolling through social media endlessly? Isn’t our Television playing excessively?
I can hear your mind voice. Yes, we will need such leisure pursuits to soothe ourselves after hours of work. But if it is giving a wrong notion to our children shouldn’t we try to sidestep it? Unquestionably, we can!
- Resisting ourselves from picking the phone unless it is necessary (both Android and iPhone have tools to curb mobile usage).
- Limiting Television only for a short period every day.
- Or even altering the time to watch our favourite shows (when the kids are not around or asleep).
All of these will make a massive difference not only for the children but also for us. We will begin to enjoy the benefits of being away from the screen. Adequate sleep, less procrastination, getting more work done, extended time with family, less stress, good health, peace and happiness.
Children learn more from what you are than what you teach.
Limiting our screen time will create a healthy atmosphere and set a good example for our children.
2. Let them get Bored
Yes, it is as simple as that. There is nothing wrong with our children getting bored. Boredom increases their creativity.
Why should we let their minds be occupied with cartoons and games when they can get bored, think out of the box and do great things?
Boredom opens the space for imagination. It will help them to be patient, become curious, learn new things, play on their own, explore and evolve.
Next time, if your children complain of getting bored you shouldn’t switch on the TV. Rather, you can try reading a book along with them or play a board game or let them help you with something.
If you are occupied with work, you can let them do things on their own. You can give them responsibilities like cleaning their cupboards, organizing their things, folding their clothes and more.
Boredom will help them see the world outside the screens.
3. Build their interests or hobbies
You can motivate their interests, encourage them to pick their hobbies and aid them in developing helpful habits. If they show passion for drawing, you can get the needed tools and enrol them to learn it from a trained artist.
If they like outdoor play, you can register them in a sport of their liking. Or if they like to play brain games you can provide them with an opportunity to learn chess. Identify their passion and pave a path for them to shine more in their areas of interest.
You can even inspire them to read books. Books are the most loyal and trusted friends our children can ever have.
Once they enjoy the essence of other activities they will be demanding less to watch screens.
4. Mobile Phones are meant for Adults
Kids will grow healthier and happier without mobile phones. We need to make the rule clear that ” Mobile phones are meant ONLY for Adults, NOT for Children”. Whatsapp, Facebook, the App store and everything on the mobile is designed only for grown-ups.
We should not let them access our mobile anytime as they wish. We should use the passcodes and app locks wherever required. If children need the mobile for a valid reason we can let them use it under our supervision only for the stipulated time and only for the original purpose.
When kids want to converse with their friends we can urge them to use our landline or mobile phone in speaker mode. Children needn’t chat through Whatsapp. Instead, we can motivate them to write letters. This might sound silly in this digital era, but that’s how we grew up right!
The joy of writing our thoughts and waiting for a reply! Wasn’t it more exciting than a video call or the instant chats that we do now on a touch? I still treasure my childhood letters to my friends. I hope most of you do.
Our simple rule should be, “Never touch the mobile without my permission.” This may sound rude but it will protect our children in many ways.
5. Follow a Schedule
Now, all of the above ideas were meant to keep the kids away from the screen. Practically speaking, it is not possible to keep them TOTALLY away. Avoiding screens altogether when screens are readily available in all forms could only turn negative. Kids may get frustrated and show aggressive behaviour.
Hence we may have to give some screen time but make sure it is limited. We can prepare a schedule like which days to watch and what period in particular. In our home, we have the rule of 1 hour of screen time on Saturdays and 2 hours on Sundays. It’s for 3 hours in total per week. Similarly, you can plan according to your family needs.
Also, we need to be strict on the timings. If there is any over-watching than the actual schedule, then there should be some consequence like less screen time for the next week. This can be tough. But being stern will get you adequate control.
Occasionally, We can give some additional screen time like during a trip or vacation or on some special holidays. But we should plan it in prior and make it clear the extra screen time is only for that occasion and they cannot demand it every time.
Strictly adhering to the schedule can be difficult to start with. But with practice, they will know this is what they will get. At some point, they will stop protesting for more screen time and start looking for their scheduled screen time.
6. Use the right Gadgets and Content
While providing limited screen time, it is important to choose the right gadgets and the right content.
If we switch on a cartoon channel or open youtube on our tablet, there will be endless streaming and numerous choices which will induce our children to watch more. This could result in more tantrums and can become hard to handle.
Instead, we can play a DVD and insist the screen time is over when the DVD is over. Or we can play a movie and stop when it is over.
Moreover, not everything on the internet or TV is appropriate for the kids. Some programmes which are designed for the kids are not very child-friendly. So make sure to choose the movie or TV series which has edible content, appropriate rating ( G or PG – Parental Guidance needed), good moral values etc.,
What our children watch can have a great impact on what they think and how they behave.
7. Limiting Kids’ Screen Time is not a One-day Miracle
It was incredibly easy to write all these ideas however it wasn’t simple when we practised them at our home. There were a lot of challenges, meltdowns, tantrums and setbacks.
- Being stringent on the schedule.
- Setting an example (by limiting our screen time – This had a very strong impact on our kids. We make it a point, not to switch on the TV when the kids are around. We try to limit our mobile usage on which we are still working on).
- Managing their tantrums patiently.
- Helping them to understand what excessive screen time can do to their eyes, mind and body.
- Diverting their attention to fruitful habits and cheering other interests.
- Making them realise the goodness of these new activities, hobbies and habits.
- Acknowledging their efforts to limit screen time and constant appreciation.
All of these helped! Now, we could happily say we can handle our kids’ screen time decently and they have learnt to engage themselves with other constructive activities.
Limiting your kid’s screen time is not a one-day miracle. Yet, it can happen with your strong perseverance.
Don’t become sympathetic watching their meltdowns. You will never be able to limit their screen time. Remind yourself again and again ” We are doing it for our child’s wellness”. Keep working on it with tenacity and you will be pleased with the results.
In which stage is your kids’ screen time?
For parents of infants or toddlers, screen time is not advisable before 2 years of age. If you are engaging your child with your mobile or feeding him with your mobile as a mode of distraction, it’s time to stop now.
You can start giving limited screen time after 2 years. It is easier if you set their expectations straight, right from the start. How much screen time is permissible and when to watch and what to watch – set the standards. Be the boss from the beginning.
For parents who are struggling to manage their kids’ screen time, better late than never. If your kids are watching the screen all through the day or playing online games without any limitations, start applying these ideas right away and bring a change in your kids’ world.
You will have to encounter many outbursts for taking away their long enjoyed freedom. But don’t feel guilty about it. Handling your kids’ screen time properly is vital for their betterment. No day is better than today, so why should you wait?
If you missed my earlier post on reasons to limit your kids’ screen time, you can read it here. It will inspire you to take steps immediately.
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Thanks for reading. Meet you again with another intriguing topic.
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Main image by Andi Graf from Pixabay ;