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| children playing games on a tab |
It's important to limit the amount of time we spend on our phones and other devices, as it can have a serious impact on our health and well-being. We're all guilty of spending too much time on our phones, but how do you know when to set limits?
Here are a few tips for setting limits:
- Talk about it as a family. This will help you all understand why screen time is important, and how important it is to set limits together. You'll also be able to come up with an agreement about how much screen time each person can have, or what devices they can use.
- Establish a schedule. For example, if your child usually plays video games from 11 am to 2 pm on weekdays but always wants to play at 1 pm on Saturdays and Sundays, then maybe that time slot should be reserved for homework or something else productive (like watching TV shows together).
Screen time is something that can be a huge challenge for families and children alike.
Not only is it important to keep kids' eyes and brains active, but it's also a good way to help them develop social skills and healthy habits like sleeping and eating well. But, when we're talking about screen time, it can be hard to know how much is too much.
So what should you consider when setting limits on screen time? Here are some tips:
Limit screen time during meals (6-8 pm). The brain needs at least 8 hours of sleep each night for optimal development.
Establish a schedule for screen time (e.g., no phones at dinner). This will help you feel more in control of your child's routine so that you have more freedom to set the rules regarding phone use (if needed).
Don't forget about your homework! Studies show that children who spend less than 1 hour per day watching TV or playing video games tend to perform better academically than kids who watch more TV or play video games.
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| Child watching videos on a laptop. |
Screen time is something that affects us all. It's how we stay connected with friends, family, and other loved ones, it's how we learn new skills and develop our creativity, and it's how we get excited about the things that are happening in our lives. But there are some downsides to being glued to screens all day—especially if you're a kid.
It's important for kids to have time for themselves, for physical activity, and for social interaction (like playing games with their friends). When kids are glued to screens all day long, they don't have as much chance to do those things! And because screen time can be addictive (and because there's no real way to control it), it can affect kids' health and well-being.
So what can you do? First of all: talk about it! When you notice your child spending too much time on screens or having trouble focusing in school because they're so used to being on the computer or phone all day long, say something like "I noticed that you've been spending more time on your phone recently" or "I noticed that you seem distracted at school today." This will help them realize that there is something wrong with their behavior so they can start making changes by setting limits on
We all know that our kids need time to be kids, but we also know that technology can be a big source of distraction for children.
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| Screen watching can affect eye sight of children |
So how do you set limits on screen time? The best way is to talk about it as a family, establish a schedule, and enforce those rules. Here are some examples of how to set limits on screen time:
In the car: No phones at dinner
In the house: No phones in bedrooms at night