Why I give Screen Time to my Kids

Technologies have evolved and surely the way we are living has changed too. Nobody can dent that each person has a cell phone now a days and few other gadgets for many other things. Every gadget has its pros and cons but people taking pros together from the technology can survive a balanced life without getting affected from it.

The impact of the digital world is surely unavoidable and each one of us is also a part of the same world but a little sensible and qualitative approach of our screen time is no harm at all.

Screen Time has also increased with these gadgets as they are all over our place. Kids are no far away from the gadgets and get well acquainted with these in little time. From Smart TV, smart watches, mobile phones, gaming devices, the screens of these devices is everywhere.

Screens cannot be avoided, so I try to give a balanced time to kids for the screen and I have few pointers to share with parents so that they can also have these methods to give screen time to kids.

 1.   What kind of Screen: Yes as we have gadgets all over right from alarm clock to books, from TV to phone, a parent needs to decide the medium of screen as the smaller the screen the more stressful it is for the eyes. For example, I prefer Television screen over tablet screen or a tablet screen over mobile phone screen. The bigger the better for me because firstly kids need not strain the eyes while watching and secondly I can easily monitor them on bigger screen.

2.   With whom to give Screen Time: It is really difficult to ask the kids every time the kind of videos they select to watch. As a parent one has to sit down with them and make sure that they see the videos or series of cartoon that are positive in nature and are teaching or showcasing good virtues of life. For example watching age appropriate DIY videos are better than any irrelevant videos.    

3.   How long Screen Time: Now this part is where most of the parents jostle with kids most of the times leaving them cranky. Kids never willingly give up a screen. So plan an activity after screen time that is more important and fun to do. After watching television kids can go to park to meet friends or a glass full of child favorite fruit drink or a simple block game can be picked.
This way the moment kids leave the screen they are not hyper instead are filled with excitement for the next task.

4.   When to give Screen Time: Well many toddlers mom give screen time to kids so that they can finish their tasks quickly and without any mess. I would say that is fair reason too but the prep time for the screen should be more fun. When your kid starts watching the screen make most of the time and finish your tasks in quick manner or I would say pipeline them so that when screen time is over still things are carried on. For elder kids give the screen time after they complete their tasks, such as school projects and hobby class. Screen time for them should come as a gift of completion of task.

We have discussed when to, how to, how long and with whom to factors of the screen time.  As a mother and working as freelancer, I also restrict my screen time so that as a family we all get to have more time to spend. When we say children observe parents and learn, this holds true, so set the right example by minimizing screen time when family is around. And let the notifications pile up for an hour, as each notification does not need your attention and set the notification tones of important contacts be different; so you know when to unlock your phone and when to lock it far away.

Let us all enjoy this digital world with less of fuss and more of an insightful usage.

@MeenalSonal

This post is a part of #SlimTurns4 Blog Birthday celebrations hosted by Slimexpectations and Thoughts by Geethica where we choose to write for the prompt Screen time – A boon or curse for moms.