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Make your child to set their own screen time limit

Encourage other activities. Show your child that there are many other things they can do besides being on a screen.

By Julie Jerlin JPublished about a year ago 4 min read
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How to limit screen time

It's important to teach your child how to limit their screen time so they don't become addicted to technology. Here are a few tips:

1. Explain the importance of limiting screen time. Help them understand that too much screen time can be harmful to their health, both mentally and physically.

2. Set limits yourself and stick to them. Be a good role model for your child by not being glued to your own devices all day long.

3. Encourage other activities. Show your child that there are many other things they can do besides being on a screen. Play games together, read books, go outside, etc. Make sure they have plenty of books, toys, and games to keep them occupied. If they are bored, they are more likely to turn to screens for entertainment.

4. Create a schedule. Sit down with your child and figure out when they can have screen time each day and for how long. Write it down or create a visual chart to help them remember. Set times for when they can use screens. For example, they may be allowed to use screens for an hour after school and then for another hour before bed. You can also give them a daily limit, such as two hours, and they can choose how to use that time.

5. Have regular check-ins. Throughout the day, check in with your child to see how they're doing with their screen time limit. If they're struggling, help them find something else to do or remind them of why it's important to limit their screen time.

What will be your child’s reaction when you set their screen time?

Here are some reasons that you should not force to set

  • They don’t learn to self-regulate in future
  • If you are always setting a schedule or routine for them, they will not learn to regularize their goals in life. Explain to them, sit with them and make them understand the importance of reading and other activities.
  • After all, if they are not ready to set a time, leave them in their way for a few days but keep an eye on their screen activities. Remind them after a few days with small reward-cutting techniques so that they may cut off their screen time.
  • They think you don’t love them
  • It is normal at their age to think that you don’t love them when you do such limitations. Don’t get hurt or hurt them when they speak so mean when you set discipline in their life.
  • They think you are so mean
  • When you cut down their rewards or screen time, they may think you are so mean. It is natural even to do when your parents did something good for you. Allow them to take their own time to realize what is important. Nowadays kids are smart enough to sort out their problems. Engage their screen activities in a useful way like making daily activities, crafts and drawing.
  • They don’t learn the consequences of it
  • Self-discipline should be taught from an early age. When you sit with them and make them understand the consequences. They will understand the issues to their physical and mental wellness of excess screen time.
  • They will not share their emotions with you
  • When you are always strict or setting boundaries, it could be for their good but in their mind, you will play a bad guy role. If this continues for a certain period, they will not share their emotions with you.

Compulsive screen time in this era

Kids nowadays are growing up in a world that is dominated by screens. They spend most of their time with their eyes glued to a screen. And this has led to many problems, like addiction, obesity and stunted social skills.

This has led to many parents worrying about the effects of all this screen time on their children, and some have begun limiting the amount of time they spend on screens.

The average American spends 8 hours a day with screens. That's over half of their waking hours. The time spent on screens can harm the quality of life and productivity, but some things can be done to mitigate the effects.

Artificial Intelligence can be a lot of fun, but some things can be done to mitigate its effects. A recent study from MIT found that AI assistants have a hard time understanding the nuances and context of the conversation. This means that they do not translate well for certain audiences. Additionally, it is difficult for these AI writing assistants to produce creative content, so if you need something that is not repetitive or a textbook, they can be a great help. Tech companies are also investing in AI writing assistants and the University of Washington has developed one that is already being used by faculty.

Good screen time limit

Academy of Pediatrics recommendations for an acceptable amount of screen time are

Children under 2 - No screen time

Children 2 to 12 - One hour per day

Teens and adults - Two hours per day

Take away

Finally, talk to your child about why it's important to limit their screen time. Explain that too much screen time can be harmful to their health and that it's important to balance screen time with other activities. Help them understand that they can still have fun without spending all their time in front of a screen.

Technically, there are a lot more ideas to set your child’s screen time limit without their knowledge. If all your soft dealing didn’t work, better get it done technically. It may be like blocking some unwanted sites, setting parental locks for important apps not to be used by kids, opening a family link app and setting a time limit, likewise opening digital well-being and parental controls, set time limits. Limiting screen time at an early age will keep them physically and mentally.

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