6 Tips To Help Kids Develop Good Screen Time Habits
What is your best tip to help my kids develop good screen time habits?To help instill healthy digital habits in your children, we asked business leaders and digital natives this question for their best advice. From helping them explore their own interests to teaching them about the little things in life, there are several tips that may help you develop better screen time habits with your kids as a family.Here are six tips for you that these digital leaders recommend:
- Help Them Explore their Interests and Hobbies
- Set Limits On Screen Time and Stick to Them
- Provide Them With More Ways to Entertain Themselves
- Monitor Their Habits Personally or With an App
- Lead by Example or They Won’t Follow Your Advice
- Teach Them to Enjoy the Little Things
Help Them Explore Their Interests and Hobbies
One of the worst things you can do when trying to enforce new screen time rules for your children is to suddenly establish harsh boundaries.
Most children are naturally rebellious to a certain extent, and laying down such rules will almost certainly backfire. It is far better to invest your time in exploring your kids’ interests and hobbies.
Show them that there are better ways to spend time, such as improving their various talents. That may involve, for instance, football practice, music or art lessons, or volunteering.
Natalia Brzezinska, Marketing & Outreach Manager, US Visa Photo
Set Limits On Screen Time and Stick to Them
There is no one answer to this question, as every family is different, and what works for one may not work for another. However, some general tips can be followed to help kids develop good screen time habits. One of the most important things is to set limits on screen time and stick to them. This will help kids understand they need to use screens responsibly and not get too caught up in them. They should also use screen time in moderation, as too much can lead to problems, such as sleep deprivation and behavioral issues. It can also be helpful to have specific times for screen use, such as only using screens after homework is done or during designated “screen time” slots.
Lukasz Zelezny, SEO Consultant, SEO Consultant London
Provide Them With More Ways to Entertain Themselves
One of the best ways to help your kids develop good screen time habits is to make sure they have enough toys to play with.Not only do toys require less screen time for each child, but they also provide a lot of other benefits. For example, kids who have more toys have fewer tantrums and are better able to focus on what’s happening at the moment.
They also are more creative and imaginative when playing with their toys—so they’re more likely to come up with new and interesting ideas about things they can use them for.If you want to help your kids develop good screen time habits, try putting together a list of toys that your family could use in different situations. Then make sure there are enough of each toy available so that everyone has one or two available at all times.
Amer Hasovic, Content Writer, Love & Lavender
Monitor Their Habits Personally or With an App
While it’s acceptable for kids to use both in moderation, active digital media is more intellectually engaging. You can lessen some of the negative effects of too much screen time by providing your youngster with at least a few interactive on-screen activities.
Set explicit guidelines and limits with your child regarding their access to digital media. This can encompass not just the media or websites they may see, but also the times during which they may do so.
For instance, you might limit social media usage to fifteen minutes after students have finished their assignments. You might also think about downloading an app to monitor or control how much time you spend on screens on your electronic devices.
Cory Peterson, Director of Sales & Marketing, LED Lighting Supply
Lead by Example or They Won’t Follow Your Advice
Lead by example and don’t demand things from your kids you aren’t willing to do yourself.
This is a common misstep with parenting today, where parents attempt to correct their own mistakes through their children developing none of the habits themselves.
This never works long-term and only creates confusion and resentment within the family relationship. Instead, show your kids good habits by following them yourself and always be prepared to answer all questions they may have with patience and compassion.
Teach Them to Enjoy the Little Things
Try to encourage your kids to savor experiences as opposed to material things. Get them outside to experience the beauty of the outdoors and savor all that this area offers.
For example, in the fall, get out amongst the changing leaves, the crispness of the fall air, sunrises, and sunsets. Try to instill in them that the little things in life are important, and you cannot experience these things on your phone. Of course, it is helpful if both parents encourage these things together.
Brandon Bernstein, Attorney, Law Offices of Brandon Bernstein, LLC
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