How To Manage Children’s Screen Time?

It became normal for our kids to watch TV, YouTube videos, or movies. It became normal for them to have tablets, and phones, and to know everything about technology.

Modern days come with modern things, and we have to learn how to adapt to everything. If you want to learn how to deal with screen time, keep reading.

The key is to teach them how to be safe with technology because ultimately, we want our children to be in charge of technology, rather than feeling technology is in charge of them. – Elaine Halligan

1. Make A Schedule

It’s easy to lose track of time. It’s easy to allow your kid to watch something for a few hours every day.

But, if you make a schedule and you stick to it, it will be easier.

Making a schedule will help you to limit your child’s screen time, but it will also help you to plan other activities.

You have to teach your child to respect your schedule, and priorities must be known.

If you don’t want any screen time during meals or family activities, create a rule about it.

2. Control Your Kid’s Screen Time

Limiting screen time is not the only way to set healthy boundaries. It’s important to have control over the content your child is watching.

The first thing you should do is block all unwanted content and install some application that will allow you to see and manage everything.

Additionally, it’s important to create a trusting relationship between you and your child.

Kids will try to hide something, but as long as it’s not a big deal, you’re good. But, if it’s something big and you miss it, your child should feel free to tell you.

If your kid is older, it’s hard to manage this because of the privacy. You should give them some space at some point and trust them to make a good call.

3. Explore Potential Content

It’s so easy to say that kids are watching terrible and dumb kids. It’s easy to say that certain content is ruining our children.

Well, take your time and explore all the content your child might be interested in. See all the good things and all the bad things.

Find something useful, educational, and harmless for your child.

Keep in mind that you should still choose something fun and relaxing because educational things won’t be interesting if you push it too hard.

Exploring the content will help you to know what’s appropriate and what isn’t. It will also keep you in the loop if something negative pops up in the meantime.

You can’t be too careful, so get involved and be a part of this modern journey.

4. Set A Good Example

If you’re spending a lot of your time watching TV or scrolling your phone, you can’t expect your kids to behave better.

It’s easy to ground them if they don’t listen to you, but you should make an effort to really teach them to balance their time.

If you want your kids to play outside more, you should also spend more time outside.

If you want them to be interested in some fun and creative games that don’t involve any screens, be an initiator.

Find a mutual activity, and you will see many benefits. Your kids will spend less time staring at their screens and you will bond with them again.

5. Stay Open-Minded

Rules matter and you shouldn’t be a pushover, but sometimes you can let it go on purpose.

The kids will think that you’re so casual and you forgot that it’s time to end screen time.

But, you will know that you did it on purpose to gain their trust and sympathy.

Of course, this is reserved for rare or special occasions.

Also, if you don’t like certain content that your child keeps watching, try to talk about it. Try to understand it.

You’re in control, but it’s better if you can compromise. You don’t want your child to lie to you or hide something from you.

Stick to your rules and schedule. Set a good example and be involved in this part of your children’s life.

But, don’t be obsessed with it and try to find a way to make it work for everyone.

Is Screen Time Harmful For Kids?

There is no evidence that screen time is super harmful for our kids, but it’s obvious that there are some negative side effects.

When there are no limits when it comes to screen time, we have to expect some consequences.

Some people think that everything would be better if screen time didn’t exist in the first place.

Maybe that is true, but it does exist and we have to deal with this part of our lives.

Personally, I would never forbid my child some screen time because I don’t want her to feel left out.

But, boundaries have to exist, and you have to set some rules if you want to avoid negative outcomes.

Also, every child is different. Some kids become addicted to screen time.

Some kids have major problems because of it. You have to pay attention to your kid, and you have to act on time if needed.

Here are some things that can be a result of excessive screen time.

·        Sleep Problems

Excessive screen time can affect everyone’s sleep. Just imagine how hard it is to calm down and sleep peacefully after you binge-watched that TV show.

A child’s brain is still developing and too much screen time can cause insomnia and other sleep problems.

·        Eye Strain And Problems With Vision

We all know that screens are bad for our vision. Many young children are dealing with vision problems due to excessive screen time.

This can be avoided by setting some simple rules. Your child’s vision could be permanently damaged.

·        Mental Health Problem And Intellectual Issues

If your child’s screen time is unlimited, potential mental health problems and intellectual decline are highly possible.

Your child needs a normal life and social interaction. Excessive screen time can lead to depression and lower IQ.

Of course, with the right content intellectual decline can be avoided, but it’s still better to limit screen time.

·        Social Skills Deficit

Some kids are shy and they don’t talk a lot, but there are so many kids who can’t speak to other kids or adults.

Excessive screen time can ruin your child’s social skills if you don’t control the situation.

·        Addiction

Last but not least, excessive screen time often leads to addiction. People think that this isn’t serious, but it is.

If a person can’t recover, their life will be on standby forever. Your child deserves better, so don’t be weak when it’s time to shut down all the devices.

In Conclusion

Being a parent is difficult, but I think that it’s much more difficult now than it was in the past.

So many new things are here and they’re fantastic. They can make our lives easier and they can make our kids smarter.

But, without balance, everything is dangerous. It can be hard to deal with screen time problems.

When your kid is watching something, you’re off duty and available. You can take a break.

Additionally, the kid is happy and satisfied, and everything seems so peaceful.

However, raising a child is not peaceful and easy. Sometimes you have to choose the harder path if you want to be a good parent.