Screentime Alternatives For Kids
In today's technology-driven world, it can be challenging to get your child away from or limit their screen time. It seems everything, from school work to the availability of mobile technology, what's a shoulder in front of the screen more than we'd like to see.
In fact, in a recent article featured on NPR, the numbers are quite alarming:
Click here to read the full article and research from Common Sense Media.
Perhaps a “win-win” situation lies in a sensible approach to offering healthier alternatives to engage children.
Below are 11 ways to encourage your child to be physically active as noted in an article by healthychildren.org
For example, the kinds of toys and physical activity that are appropriate for a five-year-old, such as playground equipment, balls, and jump ropes are considerably different than those it might be age appropriate for a 10-year old. A 10-year-old may be more engaged by organized Sports, such a game of soccer or football.
Keep in mind that younger children have less stamina and may require additional breaks during outdoor play time; this is imperative to understand.
Overdoing it with your child can have a counterproductive effect on how they perceive physical activity.
Don’t forget the arts.
Consider group activities, such as dance lessons or piano lessons for your child. These kinds of activities can improve social skills and communication skills.
However, merely having an arts and crafts box or drawer available for your child can help cultivate creativity. Providing an accessible outlet your child to draw, color, and cut paper (with safety scissors of course) can develop excellent motor skills.
Be sure to be prepared for a mess; it’s bound to happen.
Stuck coming up with craft ideas for your child? Blogger Eva St. Clair has some great suggestions for creative activities for your child.
Click here to read the full article. It’s definitely worth the 2-minutes of reading time.
In fact, in a recent article featured on NPR, the numbers are quite alarming:
- 42 percent of young children now have their very own tablet device — up from 7 percent four years ago and less than 1 percent in 2011.
- Screen media use among infants under 2 appears to be trending downward, from 58 minutes a day in 2013 to 42 minutes in 2017. This decline correlates with a drop in sales of DVDs, and particularly those marketed at babies, such as Baby Einstein. Updated pediatricians' recommendations released last year call for limited, but not banned, screen use among the youngest set.
- Nearly half, 49 percent, of children 8 or under "often or sometimes" use screens in the hour before bedtime, which experts say is bad for sleep habits.
- 42 percent of parents say the TV is on "always" or "most of the time" in their home, whether anyone is watching or not. Research has shown this so-called "background TV" reduces parent-child interaction, which in turn can hurt language development.
Click here to read the full article and research from Common Sense Media.
So what can we, as parents do?
It may be a difficult subject to own up to. After all, none of us want to admit we let our children spend too much time in front of a screen. Mobile technology has allowed us to access media far too easily, in many ways to a fault.Perhaps a “win-win” situation lies in a sensible approach to offering healthier alternatives to engage children.
Find something your child is passionate about
Whether your child is interested in physically demanding sports like soccer, football or dance lessons, or they're interested in art and music, getting away from the screen is imperative.Below are 11 ways to encourage your child to be physically active as noted in an article by healthychildren.org
What's interesting to note is that the activities should be age appropriate.
- Talk with your child's doctor
- Find a fun activity.
- Choose an activity that is developmentally appropriate.
- Plan ahead. Make sure your child has a convenient time and place to exercise.
- Provide a safe environment. Encourage your child to challenge themselves in a safe environment.
- Provide active toys. Young children especially need easy access to balls, jump ropes, and other active toys.
- Join your child in making physical activity a priority. Show them how much fun being active can be.
- Turn off the TV.
- Make time for exercise.
- Do not overdo it.
For example, the kinds of toys and physical activity that are appropriate for a five-year-old, such as playground equipment, balls, and jump ropes are considerably different than those it might be age appropriate for a 10-year old. A 10-year-old may be more engaged by organized Sports, such a game of soccer or football.
Keep in mind that younger children have less stamina and may require additional breaks during outdoor play time; this is imperative to understand.
Overdoing it with your child can have a counterproductive effect on how they perceive physical activity.
Don’t forget the arts. Consider group activities, such as dance lessons or piano lessons for your child. These kinds of activities can improve social skills and communication skills.
However, merely having an arts and crafts box or drawer available for your child can help cultivate creativity. Providing an accessible outlet your child to draw, color, and cut paper (with safety scissors of course) can develop excellent motor skills.
Be sure to be prepared for a mess; it’s bound to happen.
Stuck coming up with craft ideas for your child? Blogger Eva St. Clair has some great suggestions for creative activities for your child.
Click here to read the full article. It’s definitely worth the 2-minutes of reading time.
- Baking
- Creating cards for other people
- Taking photos
- Painting
- Drawing
- Home-made projects such as sewing
- Scrapbooking
- Arranging flowers
Comments
Post a Comment