Screen time is part of modern parenting for many of us. With so many learning apps and websites, it can be a great way to engage our kids in learning without much input from us, giving us some much-needed time to tackle other things.
However, screen time can become an issue and it can be difficult to think of alternatives so that the amount of time using technology is balanced with other activities. As the holiday season is fast approaching, I thought it would be useful to get some inspiration for alternative ways of engaging our children in fun and learning that don’t involve technology.
This article was written by Maria Magazzu and provides some great tips about ways to set limits for screen time and encourage your kids to do other activities.
Swapping screen time for other activities
“Screen time is over!” you announce. And then it starts; the screaming, the kicking, the meltdowns and tantrums. Does it sound familiar? Yes? You’re not alone!
Hi, my name is Maria and I am here to tell you a bit about my experience with screens and my children and share some tips to help you reduce the amount of time in front of screens.
TV, tablets, phones, video games and more. Our children have access to so much technology nowadays. They are part of our daily lives and it is impossible to avoid them completely. Don’t get me wrong, technology makes our lives easier and more comfortable (most of the time anyway!). However, researches show that prolonged screen time can have negative effects, especially on young children.
As parents, we have to try to balance screen time to safeguard our children’s developing brains by using alternatives that are fun and engaging.
Easier said than done though!
As a first-time mum, I managed to keep screen time to a minimum. It wasn’t too hard to distract my child.
However, when I became a mum for the second time, it became more difficult and I realised how easy and convenient and therefore tempting it was to give my kids a tablet or smartphone when out, during a car journey or to have an uninterrupted conversation with a friend or pop the TV on so I can get on with housework or just have a peaceful 5 minutes.
When things get out of control
I also quickly learned that things can get out of control very very quickly. For us, that happened when Covid hit. Like many of us, I suddenly found myself working remotely at my full-time job with two small children around. Everything got harder to manage and screens “helped”. The 15 minutes a day became hours and that once-in-a-blue-moon YouTube video became an everyday request.
I started doing some research and realised how many negative effects prolonged screen time can have, especially on younger children. This can include irregular sleep, behavioural problems and even addiction to name a few.
I realised I had to do something when the kids constantly asked for TV, when they woke up and their first thought was watching something on the telly, when everything else was boring; when they could not bear a single moment of quiet; when the tantrums were more and more often.
Books have always been part of our family life and routine and I knew the benefits of reading were extraordinary. In addition to the obvious ones such as improving vocabulary, and boosting imagination, reading is also great for relaxation, helping to improve sleep and is a great way of connecting with your child and exploring books together.
As an Usborne partner, I have access to a wide range of activity books as well as story books. So, I decided I would start using books more and more as an alternative to screen time both at home and outside.
Reducing screen time with books
We started to make small changes that have now become habits and conscious alternatives. If we were going to a restaurant, we’d take crayons and paper or a colouring or activity book instead of a tablet. If we were travelling by car we’d take a sticker book or sing or play “I spy with my little eye…”. On a rainy day, we’d use some magic painting books or do a jigsaw.
It wasn’t an easy transition because screen time had become such a huge part of their free time. But after offering the alternatives regularly and gradually over time, things got better and now the kids know when it is screen time and more importantly they enjoy doing other things as well. Things still can get out of hand at times but it’s much easier to get back on track again.
If you feel your child is spending too much time in front of a screen, my first piece of advice is to let them know that there will be changes around screen time. Explain why it’s going to happen in an age-appropriate way so that they can start to understand the benefits for them. Spend some time looking at the things they enjoy doing – you could involve them by asking them to make a list or use stickers to show the things they like doing and encourage them to do more of that.
If you would like more tips and information about reducing the amount of screen time and helping your children enjoy books or other activities, I’d love you to join my Facebook group. It’s a great space to connect with other parents, share ideas and get inspiration for technology-free activities. And if you’re looking for book inspiration, head to my website to see the wonderful range of books we have at Usborne.
Head to the parenting section to read more articles with advice and inspiration about a range of different topics and issues.
