Reducing children’s screen time is a necessity but at the same time a difficult task for every parent. Parenting experts suggest some effective ways to keep screens out of children’s hands, even for a little while.
Being a parent today is a real challenge when it comes to the presence and management of technology in children’s lives. According to a BBC article, the US court’s ruling that Meta and Google created platforms intentionally to cause addiction was widely supported by parents, yet the ruling has little practical use for parents around the world. Reducing children’s screen time is a necessity but at the same time a difficult task for every parent. Parenting experts suggest some effective ways to keep screens out of children’s hands, even for a little while.
START WITH SMALL STEPS AND BE REALISTIC. Many parents who have given their children tablets or smartphones may wonder if the best thing to do is simply get rid of them. But that may not be the most productive option, believes child psychologist Dr. Jane Gilmour. “Changing a habit is always going to be difficult,” she says. Instead, she recommends implementing changes at a neutral moment, not in the heat of a debate about screen time. “A calm brain communicates better.” A good first step to reducing screen time can be to designate a designated place in the home for devices.
BE COLLABORATIVE Parenting coach Olivia Edwards says building a strong bond with your child or teen will make it easier to regulate screen time. “We need to have a strong relationship with our child because that’s what’s going to lead to collaboration and teamwork.” This can include showing a genuine interest in the content your child consumes online. Acknowledging the peer pressure surrounding social media can help teens be mindful by telling them, “I understand that’s where you connect with your friends. I understand the social pressure to not be part of that. I really do,” says child psychologist Dr. Maryhan Baker. She says older children and teens can benefit from being part of the conversation about screen time, rather than having rules imposed on them.
TURN SCREEN TIME INTO A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY. There is an opportunity for both adults and children to learn from each other through honest discussions about screen time. “You could say something like, ‘How do you think social media works? How do you think that app works to keep people looking at it? Did you know they make money from the amount of time people spend on it?’” says Olivia. Jane also says parents can teach their children digital literacy in a practical way. “There could be content that you can watch together and say, ‘Okay, do you think this is true? How would I know if this is true or not?’”
MODEL GOOD BEHAVIOR. It’s no secret that kids copy their parents, so encouraging good screen habits in them may need to start with some self-reflection. Maryhan encourages a lighthearted approach to this. “Even if we have a slightly self-deprecating conversation with our kids, like, ‘We’re all guilty of this, I’m not as good at my relationship with [my phone] as I could be.’” Phones and tablets have provided people of all ages with an ever-present source of entertainment, but Jane says both adults and kids can benefit from embracing boredom a little more.