03/24/2020
With all this Corona Distance Learning, screen time challenges are just growing for families. Here are some helpful hints for managing your children’s time in front of screens. Look for a video tomorrow, too, on how to help prevent the momentous melt-down each time screen time ends! Hang in there, folks!
Tips for making screen time less of a battle and helping your children find balance...
*Make a clear daily schedule that sets strict parameters on times in front of a screen. It is also helpful to write out what type of screen time each section allows (i.e. entertainment, online math, language app, etc.) For young children, draw a little analogue clock next to screen time that shows them exactly what the hands will look like when the screen goes on and exactly what the hands will look like when the screen goes off. (It doesn’t have to look like it came from Pinterest! Just draw a little clock.)
*Keep times in front of the screen short to protect your children’s vision, posture, etc. Take regular breaks (write them on the schedule!) to stretch, go outside and look far into the distance (natural light is incredibly important to their eyesight), hydrate, and connect with another human being.
*Set a timer. Even with the fixed schedule and pictures of clocks, many children need the beeping timer to wake them from the screen stupor. You might even want to set a timer that gives the 1-2-minute warning so they have time to save their work, put their pony to sleep, or whatever other strange ritual they require before shutting down.
*Make whatever happens after screen time fun! It is not ideal to go straight from screen time to chores or handwriting practice. Neither of those things will seem half as entertaining as that screen content that hundreds of adults worked to make incredibly addictive to your child’s brain. So, play tag, dance to a great song, eat a tasty snack, or whatever else feels like a delightful treat in your family.
Keep up the good work, parents! It’s hard now, but managing your children’s time in front of the screen well will be worth it in the end. Keep your eye on the prize of healthier development, greater capacity for attention, better eyesight, and more!
