Tips for Minimizing Your Child's Screen Time

What are some tips on minimizing screen time for kids? 

1. Explain why screen time should be limited

2. Set goals with your kids

3. Encourage playing and going outside

4. Play and engage with them

5. Set phone-free zones or times at home

With the birth of hybrid and distance learning, children have been put in front of screens for longer hours than they’re supposed to. Once school is finished, they may sometimes not even turn their computers off to watch some shows and play games. 

It’s become difficult for many parents to regulate their children's watching and playing in these circumstances. This article provides you with some tips for minimizing the screen time of your kids at home. Help them understand the disadvantages of being on their computers for too long.

For younger children, screens can slow down their language development since shows and games don’t provide the feedback needed for communication. It can also stifle the creative thinking and social skills of many. 

Continue reading to find ways to manage your child’s time with their devices. 

Explain why screen time should be limited

Help your kids understand why you’re cutting their screen time by explaining it to them. Never take the route of the bad guy and just declare the time they’re allowed to use their devices. There are higher chances of them breaking the rules you enforce when you do this. 

Paint both sides of the coin for them by explaining why it’s good and bad to watch TV and play computer games. There are many things they can learn from TV shows and games, but draw the line by saying that some shows and games are not for them yet. Most importantly, explain to them the impact it can have on their bodies if done too much. 

Set goals and a schedule with your kids

After discussing with your kids why screen time needs to be limited, set goals and expectations with them. These must be intentional and realistic. If your children are used to hours in front of the screen, let the goal be smaller and more attainable. 

It helps if you establish and enforce a schedule for your children to follow at home. It sets their expectations and can help them feel excited about when they’ll be allowed to watch or play on-screen again. 

When doing all of this, involve the entire household. Everyone should take part in setting boundaries that all kids can follow every day. Make it clear to everyone what times they’re allowed to watch and when they’re not. This can prevent future arguments from the get-go. 

Encourage playing and going outside

With so many gaming consoles, devices, and computers available, kids can become reliant on these gadgets for entertainment. Encourage them to discover the fun in games outside those devices. Provide them with toys or activities to get them moving their whole bodies again. 

You can start with baby steps like taking walks outside as a family. You can even ride your bikes or scooters. Walking outside may boost your endorphins, the hormones in our body that provide us with the feeling of happiness. It also improves your overall physical health. 

You can also let your kids participate in extracurricular lessons like swimming. This is a good avenue in providing them with exercise. At Funtastic Stuff, you can get them a kickboard they’ll need for lessons. Aquabudd’s Blue Dolphin Shaped Swim Board is the perfect board for them to learn to start kicking and moving their legs in the pool. 

Play and engage with them

After school and work, set aside time to talk and play face-to-face with your kids. You can show them yourselves that it’s possible to have fun without watching or playing on devices. 

Bring out toys for them to use and go the extra mile to play with them. Your preschoolers will love it if you mold play dough into different shapes, letters, and objects with them. On other hand, your grade schoolers appreciate the time you take to sit down and play a board game together. 

Encourage them to take part in imaginary play. This is important for young minds to boost their creativity and imagination. 

At Funtastic Stuff, there are many toys you can use to play pretend. Your little girls will have a blast playing tea party with you and this Toy Wonderland’s Tea Set. Make this a quick lesson in good manners while bonding with them and their dolls over a cup of pretend tea and sandwiches. 

Set screen-free zones or times at home

Choose an area at home where you can all put down your devices during the screen-free time. This can help not attract your kid’s attention to other activities they can be doing during those times. 

It’s also helpful to not allow any devices on the table during meal time. Encourage your whole family to talk to each other and share how their days have been going while eating together as a family. 

Key Takeaway

This article provided you with tips on minimizing screen time for your kids. Too much time watching shows and playing games on the TV or computer can take a toll on their creative and social development. Help them realize at a young age how important it is to take breaks and play using other toys available at home. 

At Funtastic Stuff, we have a wide selection of toys you can provide your child. From educational toys to puzzles to play dough, there are so many options for you to choose from in our online store. You may also contact us here for any concerns and inquiries.