Screen time for children

Screen time for children: How to make it worthful?

Controlling a child's screen time can be challenging when screens are present everywhere. But the matter of concern is whether this time is productive or plays an influential role in your child's mental development? Have you ever read the statistics about how much time modern children spend in front of televisions and other screens?

Research in 2017 based on gender found that average screen time for children [ boys] of about eight years is two hours and 26 minutes, which they spend playing games, watching movies or videos, and other screen media.

As it is an emerging innovation, screen media could play its role as the bane and boon as well as depending upon its way of utilization.

Too much screen time can:

• Make your child obese.
• Raise the risk of attention problems, depression, and anxiety.
• Make it hard for a child to sleep at night.
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Below are some ideas about how you can make your toddler's screen time more productive:

Tips for screen time:

You can make your child's screen time very useful in many ways, such as:

During screen time, be with your kids and interact with them:

Don't let your children alone during screen time. Play games with them or watch informative and educational programs and ask them about their opinions.

Before getting any app or game for your child, make sure you had well-researched it:

There are many apps and games that claim to be educational or informative, but in reality, they are not. They may contain many alarming features that may spoil your child's mental health, so don't let them play any app or game without proper research.

Try to fix the right amount of screen time for your child:

• Children under age 2 should not be allowed to watch T.V or any other screen media.
• For children 2 to 5 years old, screen time should be 1 to 2 hours a day.

Tips to reduce screen time:

Reduce screen time by engaging your children in different activities as:

Take meals together as a family:

Researches have shown that the families that eat together with their television off eat more fruits and vegetables than the families who have their T.V. during mealtime. Eating together develops a healthy habit in children to have their meal on time.

Engage your children in healthy activities and exercises:

Choose healthy activities for your child, such as riding a bike, going to the park for a walk, and some easy exercises at home.

                                         

Set a screen time limit for your children:

Naturally, children have a curiosity for the screen media. They found games, cartoons, videos, and all other related stuff mesmerizing as it took them into another world. Also, it is beneficial in many aspects, such as educational apps, creative videos, children's programs, etc. So, parents must set a schedule for them.

To reduce screen time:

• Remove the computer or T.V. from your child's bedroom.
• Don't allow the T.V. during meals or homework.
• Turn off the T.V. or other devices when you are enjoying the family time.

Conclusion:

What are your ideas to turn your children's unproductive screen time into the productive one? It is concluded that screen media could prove a boon in case of productive usage or bane in case of destructive usage. It's the parent's and guardian's duty to play their part to make the screen time more productive.

Making even a small change or taking a small step in the right direction goes a long way to improve your child's well being and his future adult health, as well.