Technology and Children: Unplugged (with Infographics)
Learn 8 incredible ways to limit your child’s screen time and change your parenting approach
Technology has entwined mobile phones with children, often leading to increased frustration and anxiety among parents.
Are you one of them? Is cell phone your child’s best friend? Does your child spend more than 2 hours of screen time a day? Is it hindering his normal growth and development or getting in his way of playing with peers or spending time with family?
Excessive screen time can have adverse consequences on kids ’ academic performance and — what’s even graver– health. Sleep and behaviour concerns, attention and bearing dilemmas, depression, even obesity — this is not the full list of possible consequences of unlimited screen time. Be it a mobile phone, a tablet, or television, it has become fundamental for parents to limit their child’s screen time.
According to The American Academy of Pediatrics on overuse of mobile phones, “when used by children, the average radiation frequency energy deposition is two times higher in the brain and 10 times higher in the bone marrow of the skull, compared with mobile phone use by adults”.
Recently, my fiancee and I visited a de-addiction centre and to our surprise, we came across a seven-year-old! On taking his case history, we found out that he was addicted to playing video games and hence was sent there for rehabilitation. Being a video game addict he had routine input and output sessions with the therapist wherein he was given cognitive behavioural therapy along with motivational interviewing. Six months into the rehab, the child did show a significant decrease in screen time.
Can you imagine being the parents of that child? Can you imagine being away and having no contacts with your beloved child for six-long-months? That would be your worst nightmare, isn’t it?
Being a child caregiver, the parents make a significant impact on their children and it is in your power to enlighten and make them learn to look up again.
So what are those eight skills that a parent can use to reduce their children’s screen-time? According to an infographic produced by Pumpic, here are those vital tips, and how you can even reverse the situation so that rational use of a smartphone or tablet would benefit kids from learning:
1. Reduce screen time gradually: Take the stairs, change is a process, not an event. Don’t suddenly deprive them of all the gadgets, go one at a time.
2. Help them find a hobby: Get them engaged, keep their doldrums away.
3. Get outside and exercise: Play is universal for all children. It is a way of a child’s living. It is also a medium to spend some time with your little one.
4. Play non-computer based games: Who says indoors are boring? Indoors can be fun too! Take out some board games and let the magic begin.
5. Watch your screen habits: Keep a track of your pickups, you’ll be surprised to know how many times you picked up your smartphone in a day.
6. Store electronics out of sight: Ever heard of the eye and the brain being partners? The moment a tablet is in sight, your child might just want to grab it.
7. Be consistent: Consistency is the key. You don’t want your youngster to take you easy!
8. Get commitment from the wider family: Encourage grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles to also commit to the rules. It will help with consistency.
Parental monitoring, mutually agreed limits go a long way in reducing children’s screen time.
“Good character is not formed in a week or a month. It is created little by little, day by day. Protracted and patient effort is needed…” ~ Heraclitus
Great parents inspire their children. Be a good reflection for them. Are you giving them ample advice to place them on the best routes? I hope so.
If you have any more great tips for reducing screen time, feel free to comment below.
Thanks for reading!
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