L698- How to Make Screen Time Safe for Kids

L698- How to Make Screen Time Safe for Kids

Nowadays, we are experiencing swift technological advancements, and new electronic devices get injected into the market each day. Everyone loves these electronic gadgets, and kids certainly adore them just as much. However, there’s excessive use of electronics among kids, and this is a cause of concern. And what can parents do? You can make screen time a good part of your child’s lifestyle by balancing screen time with other activities and fostering the use of quality content.

Here are great ways to make screen time safe for kids:

Discuss safety early and often

Start educating your child on computer and online safety when young. When young, your child will probably use the device with you rather than independently. It’s an excellent opportunity to let them know that the internet is quite unsafe. Also, address things that can enhance your child’s safety, like passwords. Talk about the dangers of too much screen time and let your child understand how movies, images, or violent videos can be harmful. Additionally, discuss ways on how to reduce potential risks.

Limit screen time and gaming hours

Avoid keeping TVs and other electronic devices in your child’s room. It’s impossible to watch what your child does in your absence. Limit your child from having things like TVs, video games, or computers in their room. And this includes other handheld gadgets that they may use late at night. Allowing your child to use electronics privately will not only compromise your child’s safety but also interfere with their sleep. If your child has been using electronics excessively and has issues sleeping, engage a baby sleep consultant. They will help you understand your child’s sleep patterns, educate you on self-soothing, and more.

Warn your child on strangers

kids are naïve and easily be lured by strangers when online. For instance, online child predators entice kids with gifts money and trick them into meeting offline so that they can harm them. Your child shouldn’t accept gits online, just like they do offline. For instance, discourage your child from opening from strangers. They could fall prey to a targeted attack on the family. So talk to your child about online dangers and why it’s not good to visit chat rooms or befriend or converse with unknown people.

Get your child’s passwords

Depending on the child’s age, it may be wise to obtain passwords to social media or any other online accounts. It’s also prudent to set rules on the use of social media, the activities you’d like your kid to participate in, as well as places not to visit. Many kids are unable to handle online problems like cyberbullying, hence the need to support your child to stay safe, especially when online.

Model healthy use of electronics

Model excellent behavior on the use of electronics. Before you watch your favorite TV programs, set great examples. These can be, for instance, scrolling your phone all the time or keeping your TV on background noise isn’t right. Set limits and let them know that there’s time for everything, and excessive use of electronic gadgets can be disadvantageous.

Use parental controls

Use Parental controls to safeguard your child from explicit content on TV or online. Parental controls allow you to watch your child’s activities and filters unwanted content. There are various materials on screens and also online, and you should only allow your child to access age-appropriate content.

Final thoughts

Excessive screen time can affect your child in various ways. Kids also get exposed to many risks and unsuitable materials while on the screen, and it’s crucial to limit the information that your child can access. Also, educate your child on the many online risks and how to stay safe even in your absence.