Reducing Screentime for Kids

The real danger is not that computers will begin to think like men, but that men will begin to think like computers.

Sydney J. Harris

Gone are the days when dinner tables were busy with gentle clamour, exchanging the events of the day and catching up. The gentle glow of a screen constantly follows children these days. The myriad of games and fun things to do online might sound like a boon to busy parents, who themselves are busy typing away at their desks. But the addiction is real and kids really are at risk owing to the long hours of gaming and staring at screens, watching their favourite cartoon shows.

It is time we put an end to this technological nightmare! But it’s not about depriving them of their time with their devices, as a major part of learning also has become digital these days. So what can we do to help children reduce their screen time, over a gradual period of time?

TALK ABOUT IT

Address the issue at hand and speak about it, to begin with. There will be heat as children will sense this as some hindrance from having fun. To avoid conflict and resentment, it is important to educate them about the damages of long screen hours. And to initiate that, you can simply ask them to read online about the harms of being online for a long period. It can be a form of assignment for them and eventually they’ll start making sense of the dark side of this addiction.

Here are some pointers on how to rehabilitate your child:

• Make realistic goals
• Remember, this is a healthy redirection. Don’t allow your child to feel boxed up
• Give them healthy off screen tasks
• Unplug!

SET A DATE

Give them time to get used to their time away from devices. Discuss a suitable time with your child and ready yourselves for the change. This will not only help them easily transition into the change but also help you plan and strategise the whole process better.

PLAN THE STEPS AHEAD

Make sure your child has plenty of activities to engage in, after all staying idle during their time away from the screen isn’t going to help. Give them tasks and engage with them during playtime as this will help them understand how to manage their day with little screen time.

• Outdoor activities
• Indoor games
• Assistance with fun chores
• Cooking
• Exercise
• Movie and entertainment

OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND

Get the devices out of your child’s sight and ensure they don’t feel distracted. Don’t leave their devices in plain sight, put them away in a space where they won’t be reminded of them frequently. The idea is to get them to forget what they’re missing digitally and wait to catch-up during the designated time.

PLAY WITH THEM

Pull out some of their fun toys and sit along with them for a round of games. While it might seem counter-intuitive, in actuality allows the children to learn and adapt quicker. After all, it’s not a bad thing to have your children associate you with fun and good memories!

UNPLUG TOGETHER

It might not be very productive to try and adapt to this lifestyle if your children see you with your devices during their time away from phones and laptops. Unplug as a family and put your devices away as you make real memories together and make the most of the time you have together.

Remember — “Kids don’t remember the best day of television.”