In this ever increasing digital age, parents have a tough job navigating it all for the first time. I am often thankful that I didn’t grow up in the age of cell phones and tablets. Our kids have so much information available at their fingertips and in a way that is a huge blessing but it is also a huge challenge. As parents we have to make them pull their eyes off the screen and interact with the real world. Our kids need to talk to real people face-to-face. They need to build, see, and do things in person! They need to have lots of family time to create family bonds and memories. It is a tough job, but parents have got to be responsible for limiting their child’s screen time. Here are some tips and guidelines for how to limit screen time for kids and help them learn to manage screen time for themselves. This post is brought to you be TechDen.
Tips For Limiting Screen Time For Kids
Almost all parents would say, “I wish my kids spent less time on their electronic devices.” The thing is, most parents feel like limiting screen time is a hassle, and most kids contribute to that feeling without compunction! Here are some tips to help you set screen time limits and help your child manage their screen time within those limits.
Set Screen Time Limits For Kids
You may be asking yourself, “What is too much screen time for kids?” Well that is exactly where this whole process should start- with thinking mindfully about how much screen time you want your child to be able to have each day. You may want to consult the American Academy of Pediatrics and/or the World Health Organization for their recommendations on screen time for kids. If you don’t set limits, it is way too easy, “Can I watch another show?” to become hours of unintentional viewing. Applying screen time limits will contribute to children’s motor development, cognitive development, and lifelong health. Parents should discuss these screen time limits and present a united front.
The TechDen App makes setting limits and keeping everyone in the loop easy.
Explain Screen Time Limits
It always helps people to be self motivated when they understand the why behind things. All ages can understand that less screen time is import to spending more time together doing fun things. Play this one up and remember it yourself because they are only little for a little while- enjoy spending time with them! Older kids may also understand that there are negative effects of too much screen time. VeryWellFamily.com compiled research that states that too much screen time may lead to obesity, sleep problems, behavior problems, educational problems, and violence. I bet you notice that your kids often seem tired and irritable when they get off their devices. Help them recognize that too.
Enforce Screen Time Limits
Out of sight is often out of mind. For this reason, it is a great idea to store your family devices out of sight when they are not in use.
The TechDen offers a physical home that charges and stores our kids’ phones and tablets out of sight and locked away. Storing devices in The Den helps kids establish a new mindset of unavailability so they aren’t tempted to peek at notifications every 5 minutes.
You have to stick to your rules. Sure, you might make an exception when there is a change in schedules but for the most part, everyone complies better and feels better when they understand that the rules are not up for debate. When kids know their whining gets them nowhere, they won’t waste their energy.
TechDen makes this easy too because there are clear periods of time when the tech needs to be stored. It tracks deviations and notifies you through the TechDen app.
Limits Help Kids To Learn To Manage Their Own Screen Time
If your child understands that they can have a max of one hour on weekdays and a max of three hours on weekends, for example, they will learn to manage their time better naturally. Children need a schedule, even over the summer, it helps them establish routine and learn to manage their time. (See my printable after school schedule and summer schedule.)
TechDen makes this easy because you can create sessions for your child where they can have their tech out and with them as well as screen time limits. So for example, if they know that they can have the iPad between 3-7 but only get one hour of screen time, they can decide when to use the screen time and how to manage it- all at once or with breaks between. This frees you up from them asking if they can watch this or play that for just a little longer. They get to decide but they will also know when time is up, it is up.
TechDen: Home To Healthier Screen Habits
Setting limits for children’s screen time is important to do. TechDen makes it easy to set limits and create good habits around tech storage and time management. All this means more quality family time creating memories together. And that is a good thing. In fact, it is what life is all about!
Learn more about TechDen and order yours today at techden.com or through my amazon affiliate link here.
TechDen Giveaway
Enter for a chance to win one TechDen which manages screen time, charges & stores devices. (ARV $179)
Giveaway Dates: June 17- June 15, 2019 Midnight CST
How To Enter: Just sign into the Gleam widget and click the entries you want to complete for your chance to win.
TechDen GiveawayGiveaway Terms:
Open to residents of the USA, 18+. Email entered into the widget will be kept private. Winners announced above in the Gleam widget on July 16, 2019. Winner will be selected randomly. I will notify by email and winner must respond within 4 days or the prize will be forfeited and alternate winner will be chosen.
Have you been looking for an easy way to limit screen time for kids? I hope you found these tips on limiting screen time helpful. Do you think you will try a TechDen to make things easier to track and manage? Share your thoughts @familyfocusblog @ourtechden