Screen time is the amount of time your child spends before a TV screen, smart phone, laptop, or tablet, watching whatever show they want to view. With the advancement of technology, there are now many opportunities for your little one to be entertained. However, every advantage comes with a disadvantage. In the case of technology, too much screen time can promote a sedentary lifestyle for your child, which affects their health and wellness.
As we provide Quality Care for Children in Garner, North Carolina, we know how crucial it is for parents to oversee their child’s health and well-being. Hence, managing their screen time is really a practical move. With this, here are important guidelines to consider when overseeing your child’s time spent before a screen.
- Set an example
Even if it’s very challenging to do, you can’t deny that as parents, your children will always look up to you. Hence, if you want them to have a regulated amount of time spent watching shows on screen, model it yourself. Set an ideal amount of time that you have to watch and follow it especially when your child is around.
- Agree about the regulation
Empower your child to make a decision by working out a viewing time agreeable to both of you. For instance, you can regulate their viewing time for only an hour every day, and for only a specific program. Ensure that they’re in on the plan, so they won’t feel like you’re restricting them unnecessarily.
- Stick to your agreement
Aside from setting an agreement on viewing time, it also helps to provide some rewards when the agreement is met. When your child has stuck to what you’ve agreed, make sure they can get a reward for it. It’s up to you to also agree on what reward this will be for as long as your child will like it.
- Provide fun-filled alternatives
Truth be told, there are a lot of ways for a child to have fun even when there are no screens available. However, technology is already part of our modern life. So you have to learn to strike a balance by looking for other fun alternatives. There are many options, but some suggestions would be setting up a playdate, visiting the zoo, or being with other children in a Day Care Center in Garner, NC.
- Monitor their sleep time
Your child’s sleep is very helpful in their overall health, but this can be disrupted with too much screen time. As you set out ways to manage their viewing time, don’t forget to consider their sleep time. Arrange the schedule to help them still attain quality sleep for their overall wellbeing.
As your partner in promoting your child’s welfare at Little Believer’s Academy, we hope that these guidelines can help you sort out some more helpful ways to take care of their health and wellness. We’ll just be right here to back you up in providing childcare services.
