Screen time is not a bad thing. Texting is a great way to stay in touch with friends and family. Plus, there are several educational shows out there.
However, too much screen time can do much more harm than good.
If you aren’t careful 5 minutes of intended screen time can easily turn into 2+ more hours.
Almost all parents are familiar with the “come on, just 5 more minutes” request.
Establishing reasonable screen time rules for your children can help them find a balance between time well spent on and off their screens.
Set Technology Times
It’s so easy to lose track of time while watching TV or texting friends. We’ve all been there and it happens. Setting a timer or coming up with a schedule can help keep us on track.
Family Activities
Here’s some family homework. Sit down with your children this week and together come up with a list of fun tech-free activities you can do together. You can bake, play board games, or go on a walk.
These activities can help remind both you and your kids that you don’t need a phone to have fun.
No Phones in The Bedroom
Even if your phone is off, having it in your bedroom can be very distracting. We all have those nights where we just can’t fall asleep.
When your phone is right there, it’s so easy to scroll through social media at 2 AM instead of trying to fall back asleep.
Keeping your phone in a different room while you sleep can help prevent endless late-night scrolling.
Be Realistic
Some rules are meant to be broken and everything is okay in moderation – screen time included.
When you’re not feeling well, sometimes the best thing you can do is take it easy and get lost in a movie or two. There is nothing wrong with having a movie night or binge-watching a series once in a while.