How to stop kids from being consumed by their electronics
From a parent:
I am troubled by how much time kids spend on screens. They have no other hobbies. They complete homework on their laptops, and use whatever time they have left on their phones or playing video games. My kids spend almost nine hours a day on these gadgets.
Response:
If there is one consistent question I get asked when I do a parenting class, it is: “How do I control screen time?”
This is hard to answer. It depends on family expectations and rules, maturity level of the child and how much balance there is in the child’s life.
We want our children to have a variety of activities to enjoy. Screen time can be one of them. In some instances it can be interactive and social because it involves playing games with other kids. The problem is that it seems to suck our kids into a vortex and they can’t remove themselves from it.
Add to that the complexity that comes now that screens are necessary to study and do homework. In the past a parent could take away the phone or computer so that their children did not multi-task and could stay focused on homework. Now it is nearly impossible to decipher between screen time that is needed or optional.
Here are seven ideas to consider:
Set a daily limit of how much screen time your children can have. How much time is up to you, but here are guidelines from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry:
Under 18 months - limit to only video chatting along with an adult
18-24 months - limit to watching educational programming with a caregiver
2-5 years - limit non-educational screen time to one hour per weekday and three hours on weekend days
6 years and older - encourage healthy habits and limit screen activity
Turn off screens during family meals and outings
Use parental controls
Do not use screens as pacifiers, babysitters or to stop tantrums
Turn off screens and remove them from bedrooms 30-60 minutes before bedtime
2.Think about your children’s maturity level. Generally, younger children need more guidelines and older children should be able to handle more responsibility with their device. That may not always be the case. I told my tween and teen children “You either moderate your screen time or I will moderate it for you.” This helps kids create their own boundaries.
3.The devices they play games on are yours. You have the ability to turn them off or take them. Sure they will be bored and angry with you, but eventually they will find something else to do.
4.Use the device as a reward. When your children have completed their responsibilities, they can have screen time. You may want to make a chart for younger kids. This teaches children to complete their necessary work before they can relax. This is a life skill that we all use every day.
5.Have a time of the week when you all turn off your phones and do something as a family. Sledding, a movie, games….something that involves the whole family interacting together. If you begin this when your kids are younger it will be part of the family plan. If you start this with older kids they may not like the idea or try to sabotage it. Get their ideas on what they would like to do.
6.If you are wondering what teacher expectations are in regards to lessons and homework on the chromebook reach out. Kids are good at giving you answers that make sense, but may not be the whole story.
7.Model appropriate screen time behavior. This is probably the hardest of all. We, as the adults, need to put down our phones and screens and interact with our children. It is so easy to tell our kids to put away their phone, but can you?
For more information check out the following websites:
American Pediatrics Association - Media Use in School-Aged Children and Adolescents
Mayo Clinic - Screen time and children: How to guide your child