Screen Time & Your Child: How To Get It Right
Like it or not, we all live in a connected world, and that means screen time is a common occurrence for most people, especially our children. But with so much worry and concern about the downsides of screen time, how can you be sure that your child is doing screen time right?
The good news is that by minimising the negative aspects of screen time and maximising the positive parts, as discussed below you can help your child to get their screen time right. Read on to find out more.
Acknowledge the downsides of screen time.
There is plenty in the news and media about the negative impact that screen time can have on our kids including:
Overstimulation makes it harder to concentrate and tolerate boredom.
Screen time can make kids more vulnerable to bullying because it connects them more easily.
Kids can’t yet critically think about the content they see which can lead them to compare themselves unfavourable to negative or unrealistic images portrayed online.
Now you may expect us to dispute these negatives but the truth is that they do happen. Another truth is that we are so reliant on technology and screens as a society that screen time is here to stay, and that means the best approach is to do what we can to minimize these issues and use screens in the right way. Indeed, in the section at the end of this post, you will find some practical solutions that can help reduce the exposure and impact of the negatives of screen time.
Recognise that there are some positives to screen time.
Before we look at the practical ways to reduce the downsides of screen time, it's also important to recognise that screen time, when used in the right way also provides some benefits as well including:
Screen time can be useful for education.
When used in the right way, screen time can be a powerful tool for education. Indeed, with techniques such as blended learning, screen time can be carefully balanced with more hands-on instruction to ensure better engagement and skill building. For more on this type of education approach, you can check out this post on Blended Learning: Definition, Benefits, And Examples online. Where you can see that it is a very flexible strategy that can easily be adapted to the specific ages, abilities, and needs of the students involved.
Screen time builds digital skills.
The modern world and the jobs within it now very rarely use paper and pencil. Instead, they use the latest technology available to them, and by not making sure our kids are familiar with these, we put them at a distinct disadvantage as they go out into the world.
Screen time can build connection.
Screen time can also be an important way for our kids to connect with others, find their group, and explore interests that those around them may not share.
Screen Time & Your Child: Tips On How To Get It Right
Do stay in charge
Make sure that you and your child are in charge of their screen time and don’t allow their screen time to be in charge of them. This means time limits, times of day where screen time is not allowed, and time before bed to decompress from the stimulation and blue lights of screens.
Don’t forget kids need physical activity
Don’t allow your child to sit passively and use their screens all day. Physical activity needs to be built into every day to make it a positive habit.
Do educate your child on what bullying
They will need to know how they can spot it and what they can do if it happens to them. Make sure they know they can always come to you for help if they experience bullying online or IRL.
Don’t neglect internet safety.
Don’t forget to educate your child about how to use the internet safely including making sure they know not to give out personal information. You can also use this time to explain to them that not everyone is who they say they are online and discuss with them how this can impact their safety and well-being.
Screen time is here to stay and while there are some legitimate concerns parents have about the downsides, there are also positives, and tactics that can be used to mitigate the negatives. Like so much in this world, screen time for kids is all about balance, and using it as a tool for good in their lives.
