Educate and Encourage Your Child to Reduce Screen Time

Here are some helpful tips that’ll help you educate and encourage your child to reduce their screen time.

For the best irony of parenting (second only to the 8-year-old who refuses to take a shower), your kids’ love for electronic devices is precisely what will help you limit their use.

1. Stick with the most straightforward strategy.

It’s not fun to have to stop playing a game to do schoolwork or set the table, so tell your youngster that you understand. 

So you’ve concluded that the best plan is to remind them in advance of all the things they need to do that day to complete the activities before they get to spend time on the computer. 

You can use a set amount of time (since too much time isn’t healthy for anyone) on devices without pausing to complete other activities.

To ensure that their sleep isn’t disrupted, make them finish with gadgets at least an hour before bedtime, whether at once or in chunks (a specific amount of time after they’ve gone outside to play and the rest after everything else is done).

2. Make a decision and stick to it.

Be sure this is in your child’s best interest before you take any action.  It’s a lost opportunity for your child to read, be active, be creative, make friends, or do any of the other things you make them do that may have given you a household name for your sarcasm and injustice.

Children require a healthy amount of separation from technology. Yet, many would use them incessantly if left to their own devices.

3. Limit your time spent staring at a screen.

If I tell you to do something, don’t do it, you’re not going to believe me. Tell your youngster that you think it’s best if they don’t spend too much time on their screens.

Don’t use your phone in public places where you’ll be around other people for an extended period, such as at meals or social gatherings.

4. Weekends are a time when rules might be looser.

Weekends and vacations don’t have to follow the same strict guidelines as the week’s rest.  It’s also possible to reward your children for spending more time reading throughout the week by allowing them to use their technology on the weekends. 

If you’re going to break the rules for a special occasion, like a road trip, make it clear when you’ll return to the norm. Yes, it’s going to be a challenge. However, if you persist, you will see good results.

Let me tell you this, the time and energy you spend to educate and encourage your child to reduce screen time will significantly improve their well-being in the long run.

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