Carer’s Guide to Screen Time 101.com



carer’s Guide to Screen Time43815006985left10160Children love TV, computer games, iPads and online media! It seems that some children do not exist without a screen in front of them. The sight and sounds, the thrill of a challenge and the rewards of victory (or finding a cheat) create pleasure that is “wired” into our brains. Game experience can increase problem solving, increase our knowledge base, increase eye hand co-ordination and even help concentration. Just as we are “wired” to enjoy many things (food, relationships, fashion, gambling) we are also capable of misusing all these things. Unfortunately, the consequences of misusing screen time are not always recognized or are underestimated. Poor sleep, being physically unfit and behavioural problems can be influenced by poor screen habits particularly for children.Here are my 7 top tips for healthy screen time for your children: Moderate useDoDon’tTreat screen time as one part of lifeTreat screen time as a rightSet realistic schedules (e.g. A movie, 1 hour)Let children just swap one screen for anotherHave other options available (outside play)Use it as a baby sitter. Health department recommends no more than 2 hours/day with at least 1 break. Click for more info.Keep the screen out of the bedroomDoDon’tPromote the bedroom as a place to sleepBelieve that the only pathway to sleep is a screenMake a “bed time” for screensInstall screens in the bedroom (e.g. TV)Click for more sleep suggestions. Model good screen habitsDoDon’tPlay child appropriate games with your childrenPermit your children to play your adult rated games.Have non-screen play with your childrenAllow your screen time to interfere with family timeMake meal times a non-screen timeTalk to your children while focused on your screenClick for more healthy habitsMake screen time as social as possibleDoDon’tEncourage your children to talk about their screen interestsLet your children just absorb contentTalk about how the screen time made your child feelAssume that all children react to content the same wayClick for tips for co-viewing with your childrenPromote positive contentDoDon’tUnderstand the content ratingAssume your children can process emotionally what they can comprehend intellectuallyKnow what your children are watchingJust check for violence but think about other values and any advertising.Research content and try it yourself firstAccept that your child can always make appropriate choices.Click for more information about making positive choicesMake online experiences as safe as possible DoDon’tUse parental controls, a firewall and virus protector for your children’s online activity Think that children have to deliberately search to find unsafe contentMake sure you have a line of sight to their online activityLet your children go online in privateHave a strategy to deal with negative content and experiences (e.g. Cyberbullying)Believe that online issues can’t hurt your childrenClick for more i-safety informationBe ready to adaptDoDon’tRemember that technology and our understanding of its impact is constantly changing, so stay up to date.Let your effort go to waste, see it throughClick for more information from the Department of Health ................
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