Technology has become one of the ruling classes of our society. Its gradual spread over the last 10 years into pockets, homes, cars and classrooms has had both positive and negative impacts on our lives, forcing us to make changes. Some have embraced this digital world and are fully connected to the web, using it to write to-do lists, shop, listen to music, find locations and provide instant answers to every possible question. Others feel overwhelmed by this surge in technological power and try to keep it to the bare minimum.
Whilst weighing up how we use technology in our own lives is important, considering the impact it has on children is imperative. So, how should screen time and devices feature in a child’s life and what boundaries should we be setting?
General Advice:
The general advice from experts is to provide positive off-screen activities for children to enable them to develop their mental, physical and emotional wellbeing along with crucial personal and interpersonal skills. The advice is:
- Children under 3 years old = no screen time
- Children aged 3-5 years old = a maximum of 1 hour of screen time a day
- Children aged 5 years old and above = a maximum of 2 hours of screen time a day
Sticking to these guidelines and ensuring that children have breaks in between screen time is a great way to look after your little ones.
The Technology Trap:
It is fair to say that everyone needs a little time to ‘zone out’ from the real world and escape reality every once in a while. However, this does not have to mean pressing play on their favourite programme to quieten them down in a café or during a long car journey. Instead, encourage children to escape reality through the use of children’s stories, make-believe games or problem solving. Even in the car, creating stories together or listening to an audio book will allow the child to develop their imagination and have a break from their active lives.
Physical and Mental Health:
One of the real concerns when it comes to children binging on technology is the impact it may have on their mental and physical wellbeing. Look at a screen as opposed to going outside and playing with a ball could potentially lead to problems. If this is their preferred choice, it is time to set some boundaries. Make sure that you limit the amount of time a child spends on these screens and motivate them to take part in alternative activities. Your enthusiasm towards a child of such a young age will hopefully drive them to try new things away from the machines, promoting physical exertion whilst expanding their minds.
Education and Fun:
Whilst there are negatives to allowing children access to tablets, phones or other devices, there are also positive ways in which they can be utilised. Educational apps and resources are available in abundance so choose carefully and help your little one to learn during their screen time. See below for some inspiration:
☑ Tozzle (for shape recognition)
☑ Little Writer (for handwriting)
☑ Endless Reader (for reading)
☑ Hip Hop Hen (for phonics)
☑ Duolingo (for languages)
☑ Scratch Jr (for coding)
☑ Kids Academy (for numeracy & general learning)
Use technology for positive means and help to protect little minds.