Stop Fighting With Your Kids Over Screen Time. Read These Tips Instead.

Modern parents know that when it comes to screen time, the struggle is real. Technology is all around us these days, and it’s not uncommon for moms or dads to have to compete for their children’s attention against television, smartphones, and video games. Managing screen time becomes even more difficult during summer when the kids are off from school and the temperatures rise. 

However, when it comes to managing screen time, you need a strategy. Your kids will likely not give up without a fight. You’ll need to know how to talk to them about their habits without creating more drama, and you'll have to manage your own screen time to avoid setting a bad example in the process. Here are some tips and advice for controlling screen time in your home.

Why You Need to Manage Screen Time

There are many reasons why managing screen time must be at the top of your list of parental responsibilities. Take control of the situation, and you can avoid dangers like these:

Obesity 

No, this health issue won’t happen overnight. However, if you make it a regular practice to let your kids sit in front of the TV day after day, it could become a habit. In addition to gaining weight, by not getting off the couch, they’re not getting the exercise that growing kids require, and it could hurt them as they grow into adulthood.

Behavioral Problems

There’s also the potential that unmanaged screen time could lead to mental health issues. It often comes down to the type of screens your kids look at the most. Time spent in front of the TV can keep your kids from interacting with other children in real life. If your kids spend too much time playing video games, they could be subjected to mature or violent themes. Then, some kids spend too much time on social media. These kids could deal with unrealistic expectations or be subject to cyberbullying.

Poor Sleep

Too much screen time near bedtime can cause sleep issues. Screens emit blue light that can disrupt the brain by causing sleep disturbances, eye strain, and even lead to cancer. When your kids lose sleep, it can disrupt their circadian rhythm, and they may have trouble falling asleep in the future.

Impair Academic Performance

Of course, if your son or daughter is spending all of their time in front of a screen, and it’s not a computer while they do their homework, then their academic performance is likely to suffer. That’s why you must set ground rules for your kids. That could mean that they can’t watch any screens until their homework is done or that if they don’t get a certain grade in a class, their screen time will be restricted.

How Much Is Too Much?

Are your kids already watching too much TV? According to Hopkins Medicine, it’s ideal to stick to two hours or less per day. That limit should be for all screens, including the television, tablets, phones, and video games. 

Consider setting up a routine and dictating times when your kids should not be looking at screens. Do they really need to watch TV right away in the morning, or can they go outside for a while and get some fresh air? You could also make it a rule that when eating dinner, everyone sits at the table with the TV off. How about mandating that everyone keep their phones in their pockets during meals? Setting up rules like these can ensure that your kids aren’t resorting to a screen every chance they get. 

Tips to Reduce Screen Time

There are many tips for managing screen time that you can implement today to ensure that your kids have a well-rounded life. Many of these tips will also hold you accountable to practice what you preach and manage your own screen time in the process. 

Don’t Eat in Front of the TV

A key to managing screen time is to make it a rule that eating in front of the TV is never allowed. To make this work, you must follow the same rule yourself. When it comes to dinnertime, sit in the dining room or a space that’s away from the TV. Don’t allow cell phones during this time, either. Instead, use this time to talk about your day and ask the kids about school. 

In addition to limiting screen time, eating away from the TV can also help to form positive mental behaviors. When people eat in front of screens often, it can create a mental connection between eating and screens. That means that every time you’re in front of a screen, you can subconsciously feel like eating. Make rules to stop that negative behavior before it starts.

Keep Screens Out of the Bedroom

You need to be strong when it comes to making rules about screens in the household. Another rule that you should put in place is that TVs, tablets, and other screens are not allowed in bedrooms. It’s far too easy for kids and teens to run into their rooms and then spend hours watching TV. Not only is this unnecessary screen time, but when your kids are away from you and in their bedrooms, you can’t monitor what they’re watching, and that can be bad news.

To avoid constant fights, you need to follow the same rules. You might have a TV in your room, but don’t sit in there and watch TV when your kids are around. Instead, spend time with them, and they won’t be tempted to go into their rooms.

Avoid Background Screens

Many people like to have noise in the background to fill the gaps. It’s not uncommon for folks to turn the TV on when company is over or while they’re making dinner, so there's some filler, and they’re not sitting in silence. However, the problem is that when you have the screen on in the background, you and your kids are more likely to turn your attention to it just because it’s on. Instead of turning on the TV to create a distraction, consider listening to music instead.

Use a Parental Control App

You’re not the first or the last parent who will need to learn the ins and outs of managing screen time. Luckily, other parents and professionals have come up with clever apps that can assist you along the way. There are different apps for your devices to help manage screen time, such as the Apple Screen Time app, a free app that limits how long your kids can view their screens. There is also the Google Family Link and more. 

You can implement these apps without starting a fight by talking to your kids before you install them on their devices. That way, they know why you’re doing it instead of feeling sabotaged. 

Constantly Lead by Example

The most foolproof method of managing screen time without getting into constant arguments is to lead by example. Don’t expect your children to follow every command you give if you don’t follow them yourself. So, if you limit your teen to two hours of screen time but you watch four hours, your kids are going to wonder what is happening there.

Spend Time With Your Kids in Other Ways

You can also lead by example by teaching your kids other things they can do besides watching TV. If they see you with the television off and instead you’re reading a book, they may be more inclined to do the same. 

While you’re at it, you can further ease the burden of managing screen time by finding other fun hobbies to do with your kids. Ask your kids what they like to do, and do that instead of watching TV. Fun ideas for hobbies can include painting, playing musical instruments, writing poems, learning to dance, building puzzles, and even learning new skills like fishing or sewing.

Conclusion

Parents must find a way to manage their child’s screen time because, over time, spending too much time in front of a TV, tablet, or cell phone can be bad news. If you can find a way to minimize screen addiction while also avoiding arguments, then it will make an almost impossible task much easier.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©DimaBerlin/Shutterstock.com.