Ways to limit your children’s gadget use
These days, it’s normal for children as young as 2 to spend a few hours of their play time holding mobile phones or tablets. The Daily Mail even reported that 70% of toddlers are already master at gadget use by primary school age. While gadget use has its benefits to children such as being a source of learning and entertainment, the excessive use of it may do more harm than good.
Negative Effects of Gadget Use
According to a study, children who spend too much time on gadgets may experience speech or language delay, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), learning problems, anxiety, childhood depression, and negative impact on character development.
A child will also likely become overweight and develop seizure and vision problems when they spend too much time using gadgets.
“Parents and caregivers have the greatest responsibility to discipline children and control their exposure to gadgets”, said Dr. Parolita Mission, head of the NNC, Region 7.
While using gadgets might be unavoidable these days, there are still many ways to limit our children from too much screen time.
Set the rules.
As parents and guardians, we can limit the time of their gadget use. Some parents allow a maximum of two hours of screen time per day. While some impose a no-gadget-rule during examination periods. Decide which will work best for your children and be consistent.
Try outdoor activities.
Keeping them active on sports or other physical activities will encourage them to leave the couch and move. Teach them how to ride a bike, learn a new sport that they can play on a free open space. Such activities will not only distract them from those mobile games but will also make them fit.
Let them be creative.
Painting, sketching, building lego/blocks, solving puzzles, learning to play musical instruments and a lot more mind-boggling activities will allow children to use their imagination.
Spend more time with them.
As parents and guardians, we understand that we are caught up with a lot of things to do and to think of. But remember that our children should be our top priority and not least on our to-do-list.
Say YES to less screen time and more quality time!
Spend time with them by doing things that will strengthen your bonds. Through this, we will further understand the ways our children think and act. It will help us identify the things that would be helpful for them and the ones that are not.
As a parent and a child advocate, establishing a healthy lifestyle among kids can be vital of how they take care of themselves during adulthood”, says Divine Relano, Program staff of World Vision.
“Technology can be helpful to us, but it should be used in moderation”
Also Read: 6 Enjoyable Things to do while on Community Quarantine
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