Technology has been making our lives easier with every development but we have reached a point where we need to be mindful while using it, especially screen devices when you are a parent. At an early age, kids learn from their parents, if you are sitting in front of your laptop or using a mobile for hours, your kids might also grow curious to see what’s in it. We understand being parents is not easy and that’s why today we got you 10 ways to reduce screen time or healthy screen time tips.
The problem occurs because kids learn things fast, you may think that they have many toys to play with but once they learn the game, like color sorting, shape puzzles, building blocks, etc. they are bored by the monotonous scheme of the game. Kids grow fast and their young but curious minds seek more challenging and engaging games suited for their age, difficult games can also make them toss those games away.
When kids are at the point where they want to play a game with their family members and their toys are not just enough fun for them, it gets difficult. Parents might offer their kids screens to keep them busy or learn through cartoon video lessons but unsupervised screentime and no content filter can change your kids and your relationship with them. Long-time exposure to screens makes kids and parents dependent on screen devices for managing their lives.
Too Much Screen Time has been Linked to the Following Problems.
- Obesity: When kids spend more time on screens, they get less time to engage in active play and exercise, which are necessary for healthy growth in kids. Instead, regular long screen time promotes a sedentary lifestyle, increasing the risk of obesity. Kids may also develop poor eating habits, like snacking while watching TV, further contributing to unhealthy weight gain.
- Need for Adequate Sleep Schedules and Insufficient Sleep: Kids watching screen before bedtime can make it harder for kids to fall asleep. The blue light from screens disrupts melatonin production, making it difficult for children to settle into a natural sleep cycle. Poor sleep routines can lead to insufficient rest, impacting their mood, focus, and growth.
- Behavior Problems: High screen time is linked to increased irritability, impulsiveness, and difficulties in emotional regulation. When kids spend too much time on screens, they miss out on real-world social interactions, making it difficult for them to learn patience and cooperation with others.
- Delays in Language and Social Skills Development: Kids develop important language and social skills when they engage with people. Screen time reduces their opportunities for verbal communication and interactive play, both of which are crucial for building vocabulary, learning communication, understanding emotions, and learning social cues. This can delay language acquisition and social skill development.
- Unfiltered or Unsupervised Content: Many times parents play a cartoon video on YouTube without content filters or kids’ channels, leading to exposure to violent or aggressive content on screens. Such content has a profound impact on children and its repeated exposure can make kids desensitized to violence, influence aggressive behavior, and create unrealistic expectations about real-life consequences.
- Attention Problems: Kids watching fast-moving digital content like reels, typical of many video games and videos, causes difficulty for kids to focus on tasks that need sustained attention, like homework or reading. Over time, they may struggle with concentration, leading to difficulties in school and other areas that require focus.
- Less Time Learning: When kids are focused on screens, they have less time for meaningful learning experiences, like reading, exploring, and hands-on activities. These activities are essential for intellectual growth and creativity, both of which screen time often replaces.
Tips for Reducing Screen Time for Kids
1. Set Daily Limits
Establish daily screen time limits based on age, balancing it with other essential activities like homework, outdoor play, and family time. Consistent boundaries help create a routine that encourages kids to explore non-screen activities.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has set recommendations for children and screen time:
- No screen time for kids under 2
- One hour per day maximum for kids 2-12
- Two hours maximum for teens and adults
2. Encourage Outdoor Activities
Plan outdoor activities like team sports to shift their focus from screens to physical play. Fresh air and active play improve mood and health, making screen time less appealing.
3. Offer Alternatives
Provide engaging non-screen options such as puzzles, board games, arts and crafts, and books. Keeping these alternatives readily available helps kids reach for an activity rather than a device when bored.
4. Involve Kids in Daily Chores
Assigning age-appropriate chores not only keeps kids busy but also builds responsibility. Kids can help with tasks like cooking, organizing, or gardening, giving them a productive alternative to screens.
5. Model Healthy Screen Habits
Children are more likely to follow healthy screen habits when they see adults doing the same. Try to limit your own screen time, especially around kids, to set an example and show that there are fun ways to spend time without screens.
6. Plan Screen-Free Family Time
Designate times for screen-free family activities, like game nights, cooking together, or reading aloud. This creates lasting memories and emphasizes the enjoyment of connecting without screens.
7. Introduce a Screen-Time Budget
Give kids a weekly screen-time “allowance” they can manage independently. Teaching them to budget screen time fosters self-regulation and helps them make mindful choices about when and how long to use devices.
8. Be Mindful of Screen Use as a Reward or Pacifier
Avoid using screen time as the only reward or solution for boredom, frustration, or downtime. Instead, praise and encourage other activities, helping them discover new interests without relying on screens for entertainment.
9. Don’t Give them Screens of their own
Many parents gift their kids screen devices like phones and tab or have a television set up in their room. This can make kids entitled to use their screens. It may not always let parents supervise the screen time and the content their kids watch. Let them use a common screen with time limitations.
10. Sending them to the Early Education Centre for a Few Hours Regularly
When playing alone with games at home gets boring, kids seek company to play with, and playing with kids can be challenging after some time, at such point spending a few hours at daycare with other kids can help them learn much more than playing alone at home. Their social skills, communication, teamplay skills, and emotional development get better.
Hope you enjoyed today’s blog, at Kradle 2 Krayons, Early Learning Centre Pendle Hill we believe in fostering a well-rounded environment where kids can thrive both on and off the screen. By incorporating these tips, you can guide your child toward healthier habits, encouraging exploration, creativity, and active play beyond digital devices. Join us in creating a balanced, screen-smart lifestyle that helps children build lasting skills and discover the joy of real-world experiences. Let’s take small steps together to help our children grow up healthy, happy, and inspired!