Since the time the web has taken over our household, our children seem to be spending more time with “virtual assistants” than the people they live with. They have become practically inseparable that spending 2 to 8 hours every day staring at the screen has become the norm. Not surprisingly, we have witnessed an unprecedented hike in the number of children with computer vision syndrome, unhealthy postures, and myopia in the past decade.
Here are some tips to help you reduce child’s screen time:
1. Limit the device time
Great minds have agreed that anything in excess is poison. Parents should decide an upper limit on the time their children can spend with their devices. For a young child, it should not go beyond an hour a day. Increase it for older children, considering the need. You can introduce alternatives to digital media like taking a walk outside, browsing through books in a real library, or even asking questions to other human beings. Sometimes they know as much as a search engine does.
2. Not a pacifier
Parents or babysitters these days tend to use funny videos and video games as emotional pacifiers for a crying child. In order to calm or quiet them, try other methods like handling the emotions, managing their tantrums, teaching them to behave, or finding alternative options to channel their energy.
3. Assign tech-free zones
Have a hard and fast rule that family time is not ‘online time’. In this fast-paced world, mealtime is the only time the family gets to bond and exchange thoughts on what is happening in their busy lives. Children need to commit themselves during this time so that they learn family values and for that, devices are a strict No! This can be a good way to reduce child’s screen time.
4. Real playtime
Physical exercises develop muscles, strengthen bones and build stamina – video game does none of these. By enrolling them in sports academies and encouraging them to participate in school sports, you are not just impressing upon your child the need to be healthy, but are also reducing their screen time. Here is how you can spend quality time with your child.
5. 20-20-20 rule
Since school children are living in an era where digital information and networking are inevitable, they may have to use digital devices for long hours. In such cases, teach them the rule of 20-20-20. After every 20 minutes of staring at the screen, look at something that is 20 feet away for 20 seconds before resuming. This relaxes the eye muscles and voluntarily brings them back to the real world every now and then.
A child who is addicted to devices will not only have physical health issues but will also exhibit signs of withdrawal and indiscretion. Being an integral part of our world today, digital media and their benefits are great, but children should be taught to use them appropriately and in moderation.
After all, childhood is to be spent in playgrounds and not behind blue light-emitting screens.