Nowadays, we often hear parents and counsellors saying, “No screen time” or emphasising the importance of spending quality time with your child. A couple of weeks ago, I received a call from my two-and-a-half-year-old son’s school. His teacher gave me feedback, saying that my son was not speaking at all in school and was unresponsive when called by his name. Hearing this, I was frightened, and all sorts of worrying thoughts filled my mind.
During my next visit to the school, I asked the teachers about this issue. They suggested that I completely cut down his screen time, confidently stating that this change would help my child start speaking faster. So, I decided to take their advice and reduce his screen time. I began exploring ways to keep him engaged, which I’ll share later. But first, let’s understand what “screen time” means.
What Is Screen Time?
“Screen time” refers to activities done in front of a screen, such as watching television, using a computer, playing video games, or viewing content on a mobile device. Screen time is a sedentary activity, meaning that you are physically inactive while sitting down.
What Is the Ideal Screen Time for Children?
According to Dr. Yousuf, an American paediatrician, the general recommendations by American paediatricians are as follows:
- Under 2 years old: No screen time, except for video chatting with family or friends.
- 2-5 years old: No more than one hour per day, preferably co-viewing with a parent or sibling.
- 5-17 years old: Generally, no more than two hours per day, excluding time spent on homework.
Any screen time exceeding the above recommendations would be considered excessive for children.
What Are the Consequences of Excessive Screen Time?
Research indicates that there are several significant consequences of excessive screen time for children, including:
- Delay in speech development
- Obesity
- Reduced creativity
- Delay in socialisation
- Increased aggression or hyperactivity
- Decreased concentration
- Delay in developing fine motor skills
Also Read: Is Your Child Having Trouble Speaking What’s Typical and When To Get Help
How Can We Reduce Screen Time?
Many of you might be wondering how to reduce or eliminate screen time, especially considering that we live in a digital world where children are exposed to technology from a young age. It’s common to see that, before even speaking their first words, children know how to scroll on a mobile phone. Here are some effective ways to reduce screen time:
- Schedule screen-free days for children.
- Establish a daily timetable for their tasks and activities.
- Encourage them to read books, take art classes, or attend music lessons.
- Promote outdoor play and sports, which will enhance their socialisation skills, teamwork, and leadership abilities.
- Teach them life skills, such as cutting vegetables, taking care of plants, or folding clothes. You can involve them while doing household chores; believe me, they love participating in these activities.
- Maintain open communication: Spend at least 15 minutes a day chatting with them or asking about their day.
- Enrol them in hobby classes that match their interests.
- Avoid using any devices during mealtimes, including breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner.
- Create screen-free zones at home by replacing screens with toys, puzzles, indoor games, or gardening activities.
- Use parental control apps to monitor your child’s screen time. Some examples include:
- Qustodio Parental Control: Provides insights into your child’s digital activity, including location tracking, content blocking, and app management.
- Screen Time: Compatible with iOS, Android, and Kindle devices, this app allows you to set time limits, approve apps, filter web content, and receive app usage reports.
- Google Family Link: An Android app that helps you limit screen time, monitor internet activity, and protect your child from inappropriate sites.
- FamiSafe: Lets you track your child’s location, monitor phone usage, view downloaded apps, and see who they are communicating with.
Conclusion
A child’s growth is more positively impacted by quality time than screen time. It is crucial to prioritise meaningful interactions and engaging activities with children. By focusing on these, we can help them develop better skills, build stronger relationships, and foster a healthier and happier upbringing.
So, let’s make an effort to follow this approach and make a positive impact on our children’s development.
