Children’s Screen Addiction
What should I do if my child is addicted to screens?
Most of the time, when kids are younger, we tend to offer them screen time in order to keep them “under control” by making them focus on one task. However, we don’t realize the effect this might have on their brains. Here are some tips to help you help your child disengage from too much screen time:
1. Offer alternatives instead of forbidding
Think ahead of your child.
Ex.: “We’re going to a restaurant to have lunch, which of these toys would you like to take with you?”
Have different toys at their reach so they make a choice by themselves. Help them choose between alternatives.
2. Be the example by practicing what you preach.
Remove temptations by not having electronic devices at their reach.
Try to spend more time interacting with your child than using electronic devices when they are around.
3. Don’t punish or get mad at them when they get angry for not being allowed to use the electronic device.
Validate their feelings. Tell them about a time when you felt the same way about something, and how you solved it. You could also explain to them why it isn’t good for their brains to be exposed to screens for too long.
Offer alternatives to play with other objects.
4. Establish routines to stimulate and exhort structure and order.
Maintain bedtime, mealtime, and family time without a device.
Have a healthy, balanced diet. Less processed food, more natural food.
Prioritize physical activities and extracurricular activities.
Involve your child in daily home activities, such as cooking and cleaning.
I hope this helps keep your children busy while prioritizing fun, screenless, and outdoor activities!
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