Screen time is replacing creative thinking for children and everyone, and we’re slowly becoming more disconnected as a society. So if you’re looking for more ways to keep your children active and on the right track, check out the following list below:
1. Take Them Outdoors as Much as Possible.
You might not know it, but exercising outdoors is essential to maintaining proper mental and physical health. Kids need to burn off energy by moving their bodies, so taking them outside will do just that.
2. Get Your Family Involved In Activities Together as a Group.
Sports games or community service outings in which everyone can participate will encourage children to stay active regularly. In addition, it will allow them to learn valuable social skills from participating with others their age or older.
3. Limit the Time Your Kids Spend on Phone Apps and Games to One or Two Hours Every Day.
Most phone games and apps are either safe or beneficial to children. However, the constant use of these services is creating problems. So it’s best to set a limit of one or two hours per day—at most—on when they can use them.
4. Let Them Play Outside Without Screens.
Children should also spend a lot of time playing with their friends at home and in the yard. Interactive children’s games encourage kids to use their imaginations to create new stories and scenarios within their world. Whether they play a board game on the porch or hide and seek in the yard, they will benefit from a natural understanding and learning of rules, team collaboration, friendly competition, communication, problem-solving, strategizing, and more.
5. Have Some Rules About Screen Time so That You are Both on the Same Page.
It is tempting for a parent to want to be strict about screen time for the sake of their child, but it’s essential to have rules on what is allowable and what isn’t. So instead of keeping track of your child’s endless hours watching videos, focus on being aware of what they are seeing, when, with whom, and for how much time.
6. Make Sure Enough Time Is Set Aside for Sleep at Night.
Perhaps the most crucial part of your child’s daily routine is sleeping. The body requires adequate rest to function properly, and failure to do so has consequences. In addition, early sleep problems can lead to cascading issues later in their teenage years or adult life. For example, one report showed that teenagers who had less sleep at night were more likely to be in car accidents than those who had adequate sleep each night. So make sure your kid has a good bedtime and enough time to wake up later with a “good” amount of sleep.
7. Set Moderation Goals for Screen Time for Your Kids Instead of Trying To Remove It Altogether.
Parents should consider the long term, not just the immediate gratification of cutting screen time. Cut back on screen time by ensuring that talking with you and doing something fun together as a family three times a week.
8. Take Advantage of Technology-Free Zones During the Day for Activities Like Art and Crafts.
Use technology-free zones to encourage their creativity and improve different skills such as math, hand-eye coordination, and spatial awareness. To make this even easier on yourself, buy small art supplies such as crayons, markers, and glue sticks in bulk. So you never have to worry about not having enough.
9. Incorporate Adventure Books in the Child’s Everyday Life.
The adventure series combo pack of Tuttle twins is excellent for teaching your child important social, emotional, and physical skills. Each activity is a fantastic way to give your child a sense of accomplishment while promoting physical and mental health.
10. Don’t Be Too Quick To Take a Screen Away From Your Child if They are Upset by It.
It is often the most challenging, as it can be hard to resist wanting to soothe a child’s tears. Although, it’s best not to cave in and give in to a tantrum. Instead of expecting your child to learn how to manage their feelings by watching television, give them things like books or board games that allow them to express their feelings without having their screens interfere with that process.
