How to use screen time to benefit your child
In recent years, parents have found it more difficult to limit how much time their kids spend using screens. The following tips will help you make screen time a positive experience.
Research shows that children spend 4-6 hours a day watching or using screens. This includes watching television and being on the phone or tablet.
Kids enjoy watching cartoons, playing video games, and learning with educational apps on their gadgets.
For parents, screen time might offer some form of relief, and keep the children entertained and busy.
However, the British Psychological Society warns that "too much screen time for young children can unintentionally cause permanent damage to their still-developing brains. The ability to focus, to concentrate, to lend attention, to sense other people’s attitudes and communicate with them, to build a large vocabulary—all those abilities are harmed”.
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Here are three ways to make it a positive experience:
Download educational apps
Make screen time, learning time! There are lots of educational apps that are age appropriate which your child can download and use. This will not only be fun, but can aid in their studies. You can even consider downloading apps that focus on the subjects that your child struggles with at school.
Co-viewing
It is important for your child to understand that every story contains a lesson. So, be involved in what your child is watching and be engaging. After or during the episodes, ask what they are watching, what did they learn etc. to make it a learning experience for your child.
Play games with your child
In a world where there is so much to do and parents find themselves so busy, playing games with your children can be beneficial. It will help strengthen the bond between the two of you. It also helps create beautiful memories. Remember that children also learn through playing and you can learn your child's strengths while playing together.
Image courtesy of iStock/ @quintanilla