Child Care
July 18, 2024
Screen time is a part of our daily lives. Like many modern technologies, it has both its pros and cons, especially when it comes to parenting.
Setting rules around screen time is never easy. It can be hard to know where to draw the line on how much is too much. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under 2 should have no screen time and that children 2-12 should limit their screen time to 1 hour per day. However, these guidelines don’t always work for all families and don’t consider the quality or purpose of the screen time.
When it comes to screen time no one answer fits every family. The first step to better screen time management is to reflect on what screen time usage currently looks like in your household and what change you can realistically accomplish. Start by asking yourself the following questions:
Whether you feel you have a solid grasp of the answers to these questions or not, it is always a good idea to start measuring how you react to different approaches geared toward curbing screen usage among children. Below are some concrete recommendations for families on how to manage stress regarding screen time.
Keep a schedule. Set specific times of the day or week when children know they are allowed to have screen time. This helps kids understand what to expect and could limit their requests for screens at other times. If this is a new rule being implemented, it may take a couple of weeks for them to adjust to a new structure, but it is important to hold firm with consistency during this transition time.
Have communication between caregivers. If you have established a screen time schedule, make sure that babysitters or other family members are aware of screen time rules and limits.
Know that flexibility is always an option. It’s okay to adapt to what you need and when. A movie on a long car trip or an extra TV show now and again is not the end of the world.
Limit your own screen time usage. Kids mimic what they see; if you feel that you wouldn’t want your kids to have the same screen time habits you practice, it might be time for change.
Follow the same rules you have set for your children. If you have made it clear that there are no screens at the dinner table, maybe put your phone away as well. Similarly, if your kids are only allowed to watch TV on the weekends, maybe consider a family rule for adults and kids alike.
Engage in other activities. Model how fun a rewarding hobby can be. You could kindle a love for knitting or join a sports league and talk to your child about your experience.
Designate bedrooms and dining rooms (or wherever you feel is best) as screen-free zones.
Make computers and TVs stay in the shared spaces of your home. This way you have some insight into how they are using their screen time.
Taking away screen time after bad behavior may make it seem more important to children than it actually is. Additionally, granting extra TV for good behavior may go against your goals of limiting screen usage.
Provide alternative activities for your child so they have options to choose from. Anything from coloring books to outdoor activities and board games. Try to teach your children ways they can learn and grow on their own, without the use of technology. These activities can extend into family time. Instead of watching a movie after dinner, maybe you host a family game night or play hide and seek.
Screen time isn’t all bad! It can be a source of education, connection, and enjoyment. FaceTiming relatives can be a way for the whole family to engage with screens that foster connection.
Encourage your child to make informed decisions about how they use their screen time. Teach your child media literacy skills, like what online safety looks like, how to challenge stereotypes, and what makes a high-quality app or movie. You can show your child examples of good media (e.g., educational TV shows) and ask them about their decisions when it comes to screen time.
You can also present your child with choices if you would like to encourage them towards certain types of media. For instance, give your child a choice between two TV shows that you have done your research on.
Parental controls can be an excellent way to narrow the focus of what your child is allowed to access on a device. Setting a screen time limit with a passcode is another manner of managing how much time your child has access to a device. This process only works if there is trust, so let your child know that you are monitoring them and if they have questions, talk to your child about your concerns.
Be compassionate and treat your child with respect and patience when setting guidelines for screen time. We all understand and benefit from the comfort and relaxation that unstructured screen time grants adults and children alike. Have honest conversations with your child and talk to them about what they enjoy during screen time. Teach your child about the importance of balanced screen use and the potential negative effects of excessive screen time.
Screens can be a stressful topic for parents. By implementing guidelines and improving technology habits within your household, you can begin to create realistic expectations for screen time usage. There’s no one right answer when it comes to managing screen time. At the end of the day, the issue is not necessarily screen time itself, but the time and missed experiences that it infringes on.
