Screen Time Management Strategies for Children

 



Screen Time Management Strategies for Children

Young children are in a stage of rapid brain development, and they need to be using their hands and actively discovering and problem-solving. So it is recommended to avoid, where possible, screen time until the age of 3. However, the pandemic has increased both adults and children screen time due to online classes and meetings.

 

What could be the negative aspects of excessive screen time?

A lot of screen time can lead to:

      Disrupted sleep.

      Obesity.

      Chronic back and neck problems from a tender age.

      Anxiety.

      Depression.

      Low test scores.

      Physical strain to the eyes, as well as to the body.

      Impaired cognition.

      Vulnerability to many other chronic health issues.

 

How could screen time negatively affect your child's development?

Several Australia-based trainers of MontessoriAcademy share their experiences in this regard. As they have observed, children who tend to spend too much screen time tend to:

 

      Deteriorate the child's ability to experience and observe.

      Participate less in various engaging and fun activities.

      Have a lesser interest in learning about anything around them or exploring the world. It gives rise to a "tunnel vision."

      Have compromised social skills.

      Suffer from improper emotional judgement.

      Take more time to learn new skills.

 

How many hours is sufficient for screen time among children?

There might not be any hard and fast rules regarding screen time for children. However, childcare professionals mention that:

      Toddlers below two years of age would preferably have zero screen time. However, occasional video chat with friends and family is not harmful.

      Children ageing between 2-5 years should have no more than an hour of screen time every day. However, the child needs to co-view with a sibling or a parent.

      Those ageing between 5-15 years would need to use their computers and phone for study purposes. Apart from that, two hours of screen time could be fine.

 

What are alternatives to minimise screen time?

Several fun distractions can help young children stay away from electronic devices for a good many hours. It can be anything from:

 

      Playing with clay dough.

      Reading together with friends and family.

      Trying outdoor games.

      Cooking and baking together.

      Indulging in family games at the weekends or before bedtime.

      Try arts and crafts, or join a dance/song class.

 

Finding distractions for your children can be less challenging if you spend some time with them. You can help them explore their true calling.

 

 

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