Screen Time Strategies

With the modern world filled with screens like computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones, teaching kids to control their screen time is important and necessary. Amount of play time must be managed as technology has been very addictive to many children and they cannot resist staying on screens. Below are ways of ensuring a balance is struck between technology and play time.

1. Set Clear Guidelines
You should set some particular guidelines for the use of screens. A good example that I can give is to avoid more than an hour of recreational screen time for kids between 2 and 5 years, two hours for other kids.
2. Encourage Active Engagement
Choose recreational and fun applications that can be educational and inspiring in the same time. Parents should ensure that the children are occupied by materials or activities that are mind sharpening as contrasted to sitting down to watch television or videos.

3. Create Tech-Free Zones
Choose particular rooms in your house like the dining area, the bedrooms to ban the use of gadgets. This will help in family bonding and also help avoid the use of the devices to replace necessary daily exercises.
4. Model Healthy Behavior
I have noticed that it is wise to limit children’s screen time while encouraging spending time doing other things like reading or going outdoors so that children can follow the same.
5. Incorporate Physical Play
Make sure that your child spends a reasonable amount of time outside playing since this helps the kid to minimize the amount of screen time. You can also arrange family trips or sports or artistic games that call for motion and communication between family members.

6. Monitor and Discuss Usage
It is always good to monitor what you child is watching or playing. You should also discuss their screen time decisions with them, and make them self-reflect on their use of screen technology.

WRITTEN BY: AMEDICC.COM

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