Let’s face it, kids more than ever are so reliant on screens. This includes phones, tablets, TV, computers, and handheld gaming consoles too. Sure, unlimited time on electronics is going to keep your child pretty busy. But is this healthy for them?
Not exactly, it’s important to set limits on screen time for your children. Something like this may be a tad difficult in a screen-filled world like ours. But in the end, it’s better to have it this way. Here are some tips for limiting your children’s screen time.
#1 – Do More Outdoor Activities With Them
Being in the great outdoors is one of the best ways to get yourself and your child distanced away from screens. Wander where the Wi-Fi is weak! There are loads of possibilities on what you can do with your child such as hiking, camping, cycling, kayaking, but there are plenty of other activities as well.
If you plan to go out into the wilderness with your child for long periods, such as more than a couple of hours, then look into getting the right gear. This gear can include a hiking backpack, compass, flashlight, or others and they can be found at EcoGearFX. In general, you’ll just want to make sure you’re well prepared for this great outdoor adventure with your child.
#2 – Set Aside Times to Unplug
This should become something that everyone in the household does. You’ll want to set aside one hour where no one is touching their phones, or other screens. This can be at the dinner table, before bed, or even an hour where everyone spends quality time together. Digital detox is a great way to just disconnect from the outside world and truly focus on the surroundings, the ones that matter.
#3 – Use Parental Controls
It’s best to teach your child that screen time is a privilege and not a right. It’s important to set limits on how much screen time is allowed each day. This is going to assist in creating positive behavior reinforcements. One example can include rewarding them with additional screen time if they do their chores. Some children will still try to sneak onto screens when parents aren’t watching.
It’s just a part of human nature. In these cases, it’s best to just go ahead and put a parental lock on the phone, TV, laptop, tablet, and anything else that includes a screen. There are plenty of apps and software that assist in limiting a child’s screen time. These parental locks are going to enforce that screen time is nothing more than a privilege.
#4 – Begin Encouraging Other Activities
This can be a time where you and your child can have some quality time together. It’s easy for children to find content on screens for entertainment but it’s also important to find entertainment outside of a screen.
Let them play outside, get them into board games, take them to a geeky convention, get them into painting, bring them to workshops, or let them get into reading by bringing them into the library. Getting them into other activities is also going to help fight off winter boredom when that rolls around.