Managing Screen Time For Your Kids

Back in the day,  when screen time meant watching Sesame Street on a fuzzy TV, it was a lot easier to limit. But now, with screens everywhere we look, it’s harder than ever to pry our kids away from them. While there’s no magic number of hours perfect for every child, the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) recommends parents limit screen time to one hour per day for kids aged two and above and no screen time for any child under two. Of course, that’s easier said than done. If your kid is used to spending hours in front of a screen every day, cutting back will make them feel like they’re missing out. Here are a few tips to help you manage screen time for your kids:

Keep screens out or away from the bedroom

This suggestion may sound obvious, but it’s worth repeating. Screens should be kept out of bedrooms to help kids wind down before bed and get a good night’s sleep. Imagine falling asleep with a TV on in your room – it would be pretty tough, right? The same goes for kids. If they have screens in their bedrooms, they’re more likely to use them late into the night, making it problematic for them to get enough sleep. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. If your kid uses a computer in their bedroom for schoolwork or another specific purpose, that’s fine. Just be sure to set some limits, so they’re not using them all night long.

Plenty of other activities to do besides watching TV or playing video games

A question commonly asked is, “if my child isn’t allowed to watch TV or play video games, what else will they do?” Don’t worry; there are many unique activities, like playing outside, reading, crafting, and more. If the child loves playing with puzzles, get them a bigger one that will take longer to finish. If they like painting, get them a set of watercolours. If the child loves singing along to songs, get a karaoke machine. The possibilities are endless – it just takes a little bit of creativity. And who knows, you might even notice that your kids enjoy these activities more than staring at a screen all day.

Invite their friends to group activity

Kids love spending time with their friends, so it’s totally fine to invite them over for a group activity. The activity can be anything from a game of tag to making pizzas together. You will be surprised how much fun they can have without screens. And not only will your kids have a blast, but you’ll also get to know their friends (and their parents) a little better. If they get into a  fight, you’ll be there to help them solve it. Win-win!

So there you have it – a few tips to help you manage screen time for your kids. Remember, every family is unique, so find what works best for you. And if all else fails, it’s okay to turn off the screens.

Reference;

Mayo clinic. (2022). Children & screen time. Retrieved from; https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/children-and-screen-time