Nowadays, kids are exposed to so much screen time it has started becoming a concern among parents. We are not saying it is bad for kids to watch their favorite programs but they need to regulate what they watch. Finding the right balance between educational and recreational screen time can be quite challenging.
If allowed, kids can spend all their time enjoying their favorite shows, games, and other content on TV, phones, or computers. It is our duty as parents to balance this time effectively. We can take advantage of the time spent online to ensure they are learning something constructive as well. Here are strategies you can use to do so.
Learning time and recreational time should be separate
Schedule recreational and educational times as two separate events. Your kids should not be playing games when they are meant to be learning something. When they are playing games, allow them to decompress without pressure. For example, create time for homework and other time for recreation and put that in the kid’s schedule.
Reward them for learning
Want to get your kids excited about completing their educational tasks? Use screen time as a reward for completing these tasks. For example, after your child finishes their homework or completes an online learning session, they can enjoy a set amount of recreational screen time. This teaches them that entertainment comes after fulfilling responsibilities.
Encourage Active Screen Time
Active screen time helps to develop problem-solving skills and creativity while keeping them entertained. Please encourage your child to engage in interactive and educational activities, such as coding games, puzzle apps, or creative projects like designing animations or videos whenever they watch something on their screens.
Limit screen use in specific places or times
Each house should have spaces, zones, or rooms where the usage of screens is prohibited. For instance, make it a rule to avoid screens during meals, or special family gatherings. Reserve some spaces as tech-free and encourage the kids to engage in other recreational activities whenever they are in this room. The idea here is to prevent screens from dominating your family time.
Promote activities that don’t involve screens, such as reading, playing outdoors, or engaging in hobbies like drawing or sports whenever the kids are in this space. When children have access to a variety of fun and engaging offline activities, they’re less likely to rely on screens for entertainment.
Encourage them to watch educational content
Direct them to learning platforms, apps, and channels where they can watch educational content instead of spending all their time watching entertainment content. This will help create a good balance between play and learning.
Set Time Limits for Screen Time
Your kids should have access to screen time for a specific period. Do not let them have unlimited access to screen time if you can help it. To balance recreation and educational screentime, set realistic limits for both. For instance, you might allow two hours of educational content and one hour of recreational screen time daily. When kids know about these times they will maximize the time they have access to screen time.
Involve your kids in setting the rules
It is good to let your kids get involved in making the rules because they will feel they have a proactive responsibility to follow them. Let them express their opinions on how to balance screen time to have entertainment and learn simultaneously. They are more likely to follow the rules they helped to make.
Ensure the content is age-appropriate
Both educational and recreational content should be age-appropriate and of high quality. Take your time and research the best programs, apps, and channels the kids access. The idea is to expose them to great and high-quality content. Ensure that every content they consume is suitable for their age.
Plan screen time with family
Setting a family screen time ensures that adults and children in your family are held to similar standards. This means that everyone in your home can decide to schedule screen time for the family and use this moment as a bonding moment.
Monitor what the kids watch
Use parental control to place checks and balances that help you monitor what your kids watch on their devices. Most of these devices allow you to set parental control and manage how users interact with the content on those screens. Set alerts and filters to help you monitor content that may be potentially harmful.
Make kids understand the importance of balancing
Explain to the kids why it is important to balance educational content and recreational content when using their screens. Discuss the negative effects of too much recreational screen time. Offer examples such as sleep disruption, sleep deprivation, lack of ability to focus, and poor health resulting from little physical activity.
Encourage them to apply what they learn
Your kids should apply what they learn during their educational screen time to offline activities. For example, if your kids learn about astronomy and space in their programs, ask them to create models of the solar system. This enhances what they have learned in the programs.
Encourage Breaks During Screen Time
Help your child develop good habits by encouraging them to take breaks during screen time. Breaks are very essential when watching anything online. Divide your time well break it down into different sections and encourage your kids to take short breaks occasionally. This helps prevent eye strain.
Set an Example
Children often mimic the behavior of their parents, so you must model a healthy relationship with screens. By limiting your own recreational screen time, prioritizing learning or productive use of technology, and being present during family interactions you will be setting a great example to your kids on how to balance recreational time and educational time.
Create a Digital Detox Day
Designate one day a week (or a few hours each day) when the whole family takes a break from screens. On this day, everyone should stay away from screens as much as possible. Everyone should participate in outdoor activities, family board games, or creative projects that don’t involve technology.
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