Taming the Tech: Fun and Smart Ways to Manage Screen Time for Your Little Ones

 Hey there, Moms and Dads!

In today's world, we're all surrounded by technology, and our kiddos are no exception. But, as much as we want them to enjoy the benefits of tech, we also want them to grow up healthy and well-rounded. That's why I'm sharing my top tips on managing screen time for your little ones, so it becomes a cool tool and a reward, rather than an all-consuming habit.

Why Balance is Key

We all know that technology can be educational, entertaining, and even help our kids socialise (AAP Council on Communications and Media, 2016). But, like everything else in life, balance is crucial! Too much screen time can lead to delays in learning and emotional development and in my own experience, some serious temper tantrums! So let's dive into some fab strategies to keep your tech-savvy tots engaged in the real world too!

Top Tips for Managing Screen Time

1. Age matters: Make sure you're following the American Academy of Pediatrics' (AAP) guidelines on screen time. For babies under 18 months, skip screens altogether (except for video calls with grandma). For toddlers 18 to 24 months, introduce high-quality, age-appropriate content with your supervision. And for kids aged 2 to 5 years, limit screen time to just one hour per day (AAP Council on Communications and Media, 2016). 
2. Routine, routine, routine: Establish a daily schedule with set times for screen use—maybe after homework, chores, or a fun outdoor activity. This teaches your kiddos that screen time is a treat, not an automatic right (Shlozman, 2018).
3. Get moving: Choose apps, games and videos that involve physical movement or interaction. Dancing games, educational apps with hands-on activities and, of course, Miss Linky exercise videos, are perfect for keeping your little ones active during screen time (Staiano et al., 2012).
4. The reward system: Instead of giving unlimited access to screens, consider offering screen time as a reward for good behaviour, chores, or educational milestones. This way, your kids will see screen time as a privilege and feel accomplished when they earn it (Hartanto et al., 2016).
5. Let's watch together: Co-viewing age-appropriate content with your child is a great way to bond, learn, and discuss what they're watching. Plus, it helps them develop critical thinking skills and a better understanding of what's on the screen (Radesky et al., 2015).

To Sum It Up

As parents, we want our little ones to enjoy the wonders of technology without becoming too attached to their screens. By setting age-appropriate limits, creating routines, encouraging active screen time, using screen time as a reward, and engaging in co-viewing, we can create a healthy balance between the digital world and real-life experiences. So go ahead, Super Moms and Dads—let's help our kiddos become responsible digital citizens who can thrive in this tech-filled world!

References:

1. AAP Council on Communications and Media. (2016). Media and young minds. Pediatrics, 138(5), e20162591. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-2591

2. Hartanto, A., Toh, W. X., & Yang, H. (2016). Context counts: The different implications of weekday and weekend video gaming for academic performance in mathematics, reading, and science. Computers & Education, 102, 56-67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2016.07.003

3. Madigan, S., Browne, D., Racine, N., Mori, C., & Tough, S. (2019). Association between screen time and children's performance on a developmental screening test. JAMA Pediatrics, 173(3), 244-250. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.5056

4. Radesky, J. S., Schumacher, J., & Zuckerman, B. (2015). Mobile and interactive media use by young children: The good, the bad, and the unknown. Pediatrics, 135(1), 1-3. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2014-2251

5. Shlozman, K. (2018). The art of screen time: How your family can balance digital media and real life. PublicAffairs.

6. Staiano, A. E., Abraham, A. A., & Calvert, S. L. (2012). Competitive versus cooperative exergame play for African American adolescents’ executive function skills: Short-term effects in a long-term training intervention. Developmental Psychology, 48(2), 337-342. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0026938