We all know that kids spend too much time in front of the screen nowadays. Whether you’re a parent, educator or just someone who spends time with children, it’s important to encourage them away from screens and into a more active environment. Luckily, there are ways we can help them break out of their digital bubbles and get back outside.
With our tips below, you’ll be able to teach your child healthy habits for an engaged life without screens – no matter what age they are. Read on for some insights into how technology has changed childhoods forever – but also hints at what we need to do about it going forward together.
Children who spend more time in front of screens are at a higher risk for developing mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Parents should limit screen time, monitor their child’s use, and make sure they maintain other activities like physical exercise even if it is just walking around the house.
Encourage Other Activities
If you want to limit your kids’ screen time, encourage them to do other activities. When it comes to limiting screen time for children and teens, most experts agree that less is more. But the question remains – what are they supposed to do instead? Encourage kids of all ages to get up off their screens by doing something else – anything! This could be reading a book or magazine, colouring with crayons or markers, or playing outside in nature.
Create Technology-Free Zones
When it comes to the benefits and drawbacks of screen time, there is no black and white answer. The key is moderation, which we all know can be hard with our plugged-in society. This doesn’t mean that you should ban screens from your child’s life entirely—it just means that they need a break every once in a while too. Consider instituting “technology free zones” where kids are not allowed to use their phones at particular times throughout the day or week to give them some much needed breathing room. Make sure these technology breaks are spent on activities like reading books together as a family, playing outside with friends, doing arts & crafts projects at home or visiting relatives who don’t have internet access.
Schedule Family Activities
As a parent, establishing boundaries and imparting responsible screen usage to your kids is crucial. For effective screen time management, consider scheduling family activities. Explore JCB Explore’s website for ideas on how to spend quality family time. You can find plenty of engaging and fun activities here!
Whether it’s a family movie night or a thrilling theme park trip, engaging activities not only divert kids from screens but also strengthen familial bonds among household members.
Keep Your Child’s Bedroom Screen-Free
If you’re worried about the amount of screen time your child is getting, there’s a simple way to mitigate this problem. Make it a rule that televisions and video game systems don’t go into their bedroom. Instead, they can use these items in other spaces throughout the house where you are able to monitor how much they are using them. This will still allow your children to watch television or play games while you are taking care of chores or relaxing, but at least then you will know what kind of content your kids are consuming when not under supervision.
As you can see, there are many ways to get your child off of their screens more often. We hope these screen time reduction ideas have helped you find the solution that is right for your family. It is important to teach kids the balance of offline and online activities so they can enjoy their childhood while also being safe on the internet.
