Who among us parents haven’t stuck our kids in front of the television or tablet? So that we can get some work done in peace or just eat without a child clinging on to us. Most of us have been there and done that. Screens make for a good and, not to mention, convenient babysitter. And honestly, in today’s technology-driven world where there are smartphones, tablets and television screens everywhere you look you can’t really keep your children away from them for long.
At the same time, most of us are aware that too much screen time can hinder your child’s development. There are even studies that say certain programs can cause aggression in your child and it is better not to be wholly dependent on television or a tablet to keep your child occupied. So where do you draw the line? And how much screen time should you allow for your child?
According to the W.H.O (World Health Organization), a child below the age of 1 shouldn’t be exposed to electronic screens at all (video chat is allowed to an extent), and for ages 2-4 years an hour of screen time a day is the maximum allowed.
Children learn and develop by interacting with the world around them. They need plenty of physical activities to grow strong and healthy, and also express their creative imagination. Extensive hours of screen time hinder this! So, to help you find the balance, we’ve put together some guidelines when it comes to screen time for your kids.
- Always supervise what your child is watching or what games/ apps they are playing. Make sure it’s age appropriate and educational.
- A particular game or app might be advertised as being educational, but do your research as well before allowing your child to play it.
- Stick to time limits when it comes to screen time. Make it clear from the start that they only get to watch for a certain amount of time. Your child might throw a tantrum for some extension time period. But, don’t give in and try to distract them with some other activity.
- Don’t use screens to get your child to eat, it might be easier to feed them while they are focused on watching a cartoon, but it’s setting a bad precedent. During meal times they need to pay attention to their food and what they are putting in their bodies.
- Make sure you don’t allow screen time right before bedtime as this can over stimulate their brains, when they should actually be winding down for the day, and can hamper their sleep.
- A big no-no is screens in your child’s bedroom. Don’t put a television in there and keep away tablets and laptops from their bedroom during the night.
If your child spending more time in front of screens than they should, these are certain things you can do to reduce this:
- Put them in a group activity class— it could be a dance class or even a craft class, there are plenty of options.
- Come up with some fun activities they can do at home like paint a picture or build a fort out of blankets.
- Spend at least an hour of quality time with your child so they get your undivided attention. Once they get their fill, they’ll be better able to occupy themselves.
Slowly, your children will get used to less screen time and will find ways to entertain themselves.
By setting boundaries and being aware of what your child is consuming via screens you can make sure the limited time they spend in front of the television or on the tablet doesn’t interfere with their social, mental and physical development.