How to Taper Your Child’s Screen Time Gradually

With screens being almost everywhere, keeping your child away from one can be quite tricky. Screened devices are a common part of everyday life and important for a child’s educational and social development.

However, children shouldn’t be spending more than an hour or two on electronic devices, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Spending too much time looking at fast-paced shows can affect their ability to stay focused, and this can affect them in adolescence and adulthood.

Read on to learn how you can effectively and gradually minimize your child’s screen time.

The Problem with Too Much Screen Time

Here are some commonly seen problems with too much screen time.

· Attention problems

· Violence

· Less time learning

· Behavioral problems

· Sleep problems

· Delay in social skill development

· Delayed language development

How to Cut Down Screen Time for Children

Start Early

Studies show that the more children use screens in infancy, the likelier it is that they will use them when they’re older.

This is why parents need to start early and help their children kick the habit from the start. As mentioned earlier, the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines recommend that children under 18 months should only get 1 hour of screen time daily. Deny your kids any electronic devices, and ensure there is a certain time limit during which they use them.

Here's How to Set Limits

You can set very clear and reasonable limits around your child’s use of electronic devices. Here are a few tips on how you can do that.

· Create tech-free zones or tech-free times like during meal times

· Encourage unplugged playtime

· Set daily screen time limits

· Use apps that control the length of time a child is using a device

· Keep devices out of your child’s bedroom

Discover Other Ways to Have Fun

If your child doesn’t have any other activities to be engaged in, they'd definitely want to use their screens. This is why you must help your child find other fun activities you can enjoy with them.

Bring them art supplies, bikes, children’s story books, Frisbees, and puzzle games. These things should be kept around when your kids claim they have nothing to do.

Are you searching for more ways to keep your kids occupied? Bring them to the Ivy League Learning Center!

This educational center has a team of highly qualified and well-trained child educators and offers a range of amazing preschool programs to help your child learn in a nourishing environment.

Contact them today to learn more about their infant daycare center in Johnson County KS.