Wait! Wow! OMG! As a parent, this is one of the hardest tasks to do because our kids love their technology. Equally important, what can we do as parents to find ways to limit screen time for our kids?
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What Are Ways to Limit Screen Time for Kids?
If you are a boy mom, this can be extremely frustrating. Especially after telling our sons to clean their room but a couple of hours later, our sons are still playing on their Xbox or PlayStation. Of course, they haven’t done a thing, we asked them to do. So what are some common ways to limit screen time for our kids?
Weaning your kids from too much screen time is not usually an overnight process. It takes time to stop old habit and learn new ones. Use these reflection questions and workbooks to help you and your family begin the process of limiting screen time. In this situation, you can use the “How To Limit Screen Time For Your Kids?”
How Can You Find Ways to Limit Screen Time for Kids?
1. Give Specific Times of the Day for Screen Time
What time of day do your kids spend the most time on screens? What time of day do your kids spend the most time on screens? Here are some ways to limit screen time for your kids. For example, I do not allow my son to play his Xbox on weekdays. Specifically, because he has school during the week and I want his mind to stay focused on school work. To demonstrate, he only uses technology for school purposes such as doing homework or for learning purposes only.
As far as other technology such as his cell phone, iPad, tablet, desktop, or chrome book, I have a restriction on it as well. It will be cut off at 8:00pm until 7:00 am the next morning. He can only use his cell phone to make important phone calls or text messages to certain people such as family members or close friends.
2. Make A Change for Your Child to Play Outside
What is one change you could make that makes limiting screen time easier? One of the other ways to limit screen time for your child is to schedule time for them to play outside. What is one change you could make that makes limiting screen time easier? One of the other ways to limit screen time for your child is to schedule time for them to play outside. Nowadays, we know kids do not play outside as much, but it’s important for them to have recess/outdoors time.
Evidently, research shows kids with more recess/outdoors time have happier, smarter, friendlier and more focused kids. It has been proven that recess/outdoors is critical for a child’s social, emotional, and cognitive development. Parents are Promoting Positive Self-Esteem in Children and more confident children when they allow their kids to play outside to make new friends as well.
3. Find Out What are some of your child’s Favorite Non-Screen Activities?
On the other hand, this can be easily done, talk to your child. Next, ask them what they enjoy doing and you can do it as a family. For example, you can play board games with your child or you can even find activities to keep kids busy such as painting or drawing for your child.
UNO Family Card Game
- UNO is the classic family card game that’s easy to learn and so much fun to play!
- In a race to deplete your hand, match one of your cards with the current card shown on top of the deck by either color or number.
- Strategize to defeat your competition with special action cards like Skips, Reverses, Draw Twos and color-changing Wild cards.
- When you’re down to one card, don’t forget to shout “UNO!”
- This fun family card game is perfect for adults, teens and kids 7 years old and up.
12 Wooden Magnet Creativity Arts & Crafts Painting Kit for Kids,
- COMPREHENSIVE SET. Our DIY Creativity Art Supplies Kit includes 12 wood magnets, a paint palette, a brush, a glitter glue. The instruction sheet is included.
- UNIQUE DESIGN & EASY TO USE. Our 12 pieces of paint your own arts and crafts kit will unleash your kid’s creativity. Your kids will learn how to mix paints and express themselves through decorating art by making wooden crafts magnets.
Sunnyglade 185 Pieces Double Sided Trifold Easel Art Set
Hence, this is the Perfect Art set: This great art set includes all types of coloring and drawing materials for artists of all ages – especially for any child who loves to doodle or wants to inspire and enjoy the joy of painting. At this present time, it has multiple tools equipped to meet all your drawing needs. Bright and colorful to inspire kids creative side.
4. Create A Screen-Free Bedroom
Therefore, other ways to limit screen time is to remove the device away from them. Nerveless to say, every night before bed, my son bring his iPhone, tablet or anything other technology in his room to me before bed. With this in mind, remember that Having devices available in your child’s bedroom can interfere with sleep.
Obviously, not sleeping enough at night makes it hard for kids to be active in school throughout the day. Keep as many screens as you can out of your child’s room. With this intention, you can by placing all screens in a central location, you can better monitor the time spent in front of them.
5. Do It As A Family
As I have previous said, the most important ways to limit screen time is to do it as a family. Furthermore, I will limit myself with screen time as well. Meanwhile, I will do fast throughout the day of not using my phone, not using any technology because I don’t want that habit of being addicted to my phone. Thereafter, once your children, see you limiting your screen time, it will become easier for them. Overall, make certain times of the day where technology is not allowed such as:
- Meal time isn’t screen-time. Put away the screens during meals, no matter where you’re eating.
- Homework and chores take priority over screens.
- Turn screens off one hour before bedtime.
- Bedrooms are screen-free zones. Keep the screens in a communal area.
Finding Ways to Limit Screen Time for Kids Won’t Be Easy
Consequently, it won’t be easy finding ways to limit screen time for your kids. Unquestionably, I understand so it’s very important to remain consistent and do not allow your child to break the rules involving finding ways to limit screen time. Immediately, take time out and allow your child to making decision process to come with their own rules as well.
Sometimes, I do with my son and he loves it when I involved him and he will be more exciting about following the rules. Without a doubt, this will allow you and your children to establish a healthy relationship with devices as early as possible, you will provide a great foundation for your child to continue with in the future.
I love how you mention good alternatives! No screens doesn’t need to mean no fun
Hello Emily! It’s very important to have good alternatives!!!
Love this article. Some really useful tips for parents out there. Thank you for sharing!
Hello Mike! I’m glad you enjoyed the tips!!!
Doing it together as a family might actually work really great. Will share these suggestions with all the moms I know. Thank you for this post.
Hello Akansha! Thank you for sharing and I’m glad it will help other moms as well!!!
Very useful tips. I struggle with balancing screen time with my kids. Thanks for sharing.
Hello Tamara!!! I do understand, it is a struggle with screen time for your kids. But with practice, it will finally work out for you!!!
This is wonderful article and one we can use in our family for sure. So important for us to stay connected as a family and not get lost in screen time.
Great article. Deffo agree with the screen time !
Hello Liv!!! Thank you so much for the positive comment!!!
Hello Lindsey!!! Yes it is very important to connect as a family with everything that is going on in the world now!!!
Great tips! We try to do as much as we can as a family to limit screen time or watch and enjoy together to spark conversation.
Hello Jasmyn!!! That’s so good to hear that you try to do as much with the kids to limit screen time as well!!!
Love these…great site💕
Hello Antoinette!!! Thank you for the positive comment!!!
This is always a struggle. Love the play outside!
Hello Eva!!! I do agree it is a struggle but kids should play outside more often!!!
Very informative and cool tips. Thank you for sharing.
Hello Bruno!!! I’m glad it was helpful to you!!!!
Some really useful tips I would consider as a new parent. Thanks for sharing with us.
Hello John!!! Yes it will definitely help you such as a new parent as well!!!
Love this! Engaging family activities are such a great way to pull them out of their screen time fog!
Hello Donna! I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed the engaging family activities!!!
There are some great tips here. My kids are now teenagers, so we have also added internet time limits to their devices. That forces them to find other things to do with us.
Hello Carrie!!! That is so amazing to hear, I have a teenager as well so it’s important to limit their screen time!!!
Thank you for this!
Hello Farwah!!! Thank you for your positive comment!!!
Great suggestions! Screen time is a big issue for many. My children have their days when they’re on it more than others. But I like the suggestions.
Hello Christina! I do understand so I’m so glad it was able to help you!!!
Great tips to manage a growing problem with our children
Hello Marian! Yes it is a great way to help manage problems with kids. I know I do it with my son all the time.