Screens are an integral part of daily life in the digital age, so it is important for you and your child’s wellbeing to find a screentime balance. Here are three ways you can strike a healthy balance.
Set Clear Boundaries
Setting boundaries for you and your children is an important way to manage their screen time. This could be through rules such as “No screens until you finish your homework”, or it could be through establishing areas of your house (such as the dining area) where screens are not permitted. This way, your children will become accustomed to having limitations on their screen time and understand the boundaries that you are setting.
Establish Screen-Free Routines
Using screens just before bed and first thing in the morning is often worse for people, as it can interrupt their sleeping. You could establish a screen-free bedtime routine in which your children hand over their screens to you an hour before bed. This way, they won’t be able to stay up late on their phones or use them first thing in the morning. It will also encourage them to take up alternatives such as reading a book or drawing which are good for their imagination.
Be a Good Role Model
An important part of this is to be a good role model for your children when it comes to screen use. If you are regularly on your screens around your kids then you will be less able to notice how much they are using screens themselves. It will also be harder to enforce boundaries if you are always on your screens as it will set a double standard. Therefore, be aware of how much you use your screens, and be open to having conversations with your children about screen time generally.