10 Effective Ways To Manage Your Kids Screen Time

One of the biggest problems that parents of our generation face is screen time. Parents keep complaining that their toddler won’t eat unless he has the mobile phone in his hands. The first thing their child would do after coming home from school is unlock the smartphone to scroll through YouTube. 

Excessive screen time is becoming a huge problem for parents. But there’s a solution! You can take steps for limiting screen time for kids. Let us find out how you can reduce screen time for your kids. 

How Much Screen Time Is Too Much Screen Time

You might be thinking, we all used to watch TV as kids. But we never heard of the issue of excessive screen time. Why is this an issue in modern times? 

Well, watching TV or even using a mobile phone is not the problem. The problem is the limitless access to screens. Letting your child watch cartoons or rhymes is good for their development, but when they become dependent on the screens, it becomes a problem.

So, how much screen time is too much? 

When you see physical impacts of screen time, like headaches, trouble sleeping, dry eyes, poor posture, etc., it is a sign of excessive screen time. So, how much screen time for children should you allow? Let’s discuss that in detail.

Screen Time Recommendation By Age

Here’s the recommended screen time for kids:

Children under 2: 

Do not allow any screen time for kids below the age of 2- years. Their eyesight is still developing, and screen time can impact their vision. The only exception you can make is for video calls with family members, but that should also be from a distance. Any screen time beyond video chatting is too much.

Kids (2–5 years):

Over 1 hour a day of recreational screen use is fine for toddlers and preschoolers. Ensure that you are strict with the screen time for children at this age.

School-aged kids (6–12 years):

School-going kids often have online classes, which expose them to screens more often. They can have more than 2 hours of screen time daily, but if they use screens for study, ensure that you encourage them to play outside instead of using screens for recreation.

Teens (13–18 years):

For teenagers, over 2–3 hours of screen time per day is fine. This 2-3 hours of screen time does not include any essential screen time like doing a project on the laptop or researching for their assignments.

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Tips To Manage Your Kids Screen Time 

If you are wondering how to reduce screen time for kids, we have some tips for you. Use these tips and tricks to reduce screen time for children:

1. Preach What You Teach

If you feel like your child uses excessive screen time for his/her entertainment, there are several steps that you can take to reduce their screen time. But the first step is to limit your screen time. Lead by example! If you are constantly on your phone, your child will grow up thinking that this is ideal. So, reduce your screen time, especially when you are in front of the baby.

2. Start Teaching Pros & Cons At A Young Age

Don’t command your kids not to use smartphones or TV, as this will make it the forbidden fruit, and they will want it more. Instead, sit with them and explain to them how excessive screen time is harming them. Teach them and let them make an informed decision themselves.

3. Schedule Screen Time

Have specific time delegated to screen time for kids. During this time, they can watch their favourite cartoons or use social media, whatever they want. Teach them to be disciplined about the screen time.

4. Introduce Them To Pretend-Play Educational Toys

Pretend play toys can be a great replacement for screen time. Kids like screen time because it introduces them to a whole new world. You can replicate this effect through pretend play. Games like Carpenter Play Set or Doctor Set pretend-play set stimulate their imagination and creativity. These games are very helpful in limiting screen time for kids.

5. Opt For Parental Screen Time Controls 

If your child is of school-going age or teenager, it is best to put screen time controls on their phones. This makes them disciplined and careful of their mobile usage. Plus, you would have supervision on how they are using their screen time. 

To put parental screen time controls in Android, follow these steps:

• Install ‘Google Family Link’ on both your and your child’s phone.
• Link the child’s phone to your account by following the app setup instructions.
• Use the app to set daily screen time limits and bedtime schedules.
• You can even block specific apps from their phones.

6. Have Regular Conversations 

Talk to your child regularly, not just about their screen time but also about general stuff. Kids try to find connection and emotional support online if they don’t get it at home. So make sure you spend quality time with your kids. 

You can also have a specific time slot for the ‘family time’ where you both keep your phones away.

7. Reduce Screen Time Gradually

If your child is already addicted to excessive screen time, you might need to put a little extra effort. Start reducing their screen time slowly and gradually and bring it to the recommended screen time for their age.

8. Encourage Them To Play Outdoors

If you want to limit Screen time for kids, you have to give them something else to do, right? You cannot expect them to sit at home and do nothing! One of the biggest problems nowadays is that parents don’t encourage their kids to play outside. 

Buy some active play toys like a basketball set or foldable slides. This is also good for their physical development.

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9. Be Accountable

It is important for parents to take responsibility for their children’s habits. Your baby did not start using a mobile phone on their own; this habit was somewhere initiated by you as a parent. When you take accountability, you will take active steps to change this habit. Sometimes, this is all you need! 

10. Say No To Screen Time Before Bed

Screen time before bed can delay the release of the sleep hormone. Due to this, kids do not get proper sleep and rest, which also hampers their development. Make a strict rule against screen time before bed, and make sure you follow it, too. 

Conclusion

As parents, it is crucial to understand the effects of excessive screen time on kids. Screen time for kids not only affects their physical health but also hampers their brain development. For limiting screen time for your kids, focus on giving them engaging and fun toys that distract them from the screen. Buy fun indoor games that you can play together. Moreover, spend time with your kids and build a real connection with them.  

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Frequently Asked Questions 

How do I manage my child’s screen time?

Try to make a schedule and allot a specific time for using smartphones or TV. You should also encourage them to go outside and play with engaging toys. This way, you can manage screen time for children.

What is a healthy screen time for a child?

Depending on their age, 2-3 hours is the recommended screen time for kids. If your child is below 2 years, they should not get any screen time. After the age of 2, they can get 1-2 hours of screen time.

What are the 5 negative effects of screen time?

There are several negative effects of screen time for kids, like poor vision, headaches, troubled sleep, dry eyes, and poor posture.  

How does screen time affect kids?

Excessive screen time can be very harmful for kids, which can hamper their physical and mental development. When kids spend too much time on the screen, they do not get enough physical activity, get poor posture, poor eyesight, and headaches. They also face issues concentrating, have shorter attention spans, and get mood swings.