How to Turn Screen Time into Learning Time for Your Child?
In today's digital age, it's difficult to avoid screens altogether, especially for children. From smartphones to tablets, laptops to smart TVs, screens are all around us, and children are increasingly becoming addicted to them. However, screen time doesn't have to be all bad. With a little creativity and some guidance, parents can turn screen time into learning time for their children. In this blog, we'll discuss the real problem of addiction to digital devices for children and offer practical advice on how parents can solve it by turning screen time into learning time.
The Problem of Addiction to Digital Devices for Children
According to a report published by Mirror - The average child spends more than four-and-a-half hours per day on electrical devices - and just 40 minutes outside, according to a survey. This means that, based on a 12-hour day, children are spending more than a third of their time looking at screens, and just 6% outside.
While parents want some "ME" time and give mobiles/ other digital devices to children to focus on their work/ sleep better or just to run daily errands, they must remember that every action leads to a reaction. This becomes a habit and norm for the child.
This excessive screen time has been linked to numerous negative effects on children's physical and mental health, including obesity, poor sleep, depression, and anxiety.
Moreover, children who spend too much time in front of screens often miss out on valuable learning experiences. They may become passive consumers of content, rather than active learners who engage with and apply the information they encounter.
Save the recommended digital screen time for different age groups so you can act accordingly.
Recommended Digital Screen Time For Children
Age (in Years) | Daily Screen Time (In hours) |
< 2 | ZERO |
2-5 | Maximum ONE |
5-17 | Maximum TWO (excluding homework) |
Source: OSF Healthcare
Turning Screen Time into Learning Time
Fortunately, there are several ways that parents can turn screen time into learning time for their children. Here are some practical tips to get started:
Choose high-quality content
Not all screen time is created equal. Some digital content is designed to be educational, while others are purely entertainment. To ensure that your child's screen time is productive, choose high-quality content that's specifically designed to teach or inform. Look for apps, games, and websites that are aligned with your child's interests and age level.
Set limits on screen time
While screen time can be beneficial, it's important to set limits to prevent your child from becoming addicted to digital devices. Experts recommend that children aged 2 to 5 should have no more than 1 hour of screen time per day, while children aged 6 and older should have no more than 2 hours of screen time per day. Be consistent with enforcing these limits and communicate them clearly to your child.
Encourage active engagement
Rather than passively consuming content, encourage your child to actively engage with what they're seeing on the screen. Ask them questions, have them summarize what they've learned, and encourage them to apply the information to real-world situations. This will help them retain the information and develop critical thinking skills.
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Use screens to supplement other learning activities
Screen time shouldn't be the only way your child learns. Instead, use screens to supplement other learning activities. For example, if your child is interested in science, watch a documentary together, then conduct a related experiment or visit a science museum. This will help your child see the connections between what they're learning on screen and the real world.