Children are becoming increasingly addicted to their devices. On average, they are spending four and a half hours every day sitting glued to them. It’s no wonder that they have such little interest in going outdoors. In their stage of life, exposure like this can be detrimental for their health and development. It can be damaging to their mental health, eyes, and cognitive function. If you’re concerned about your child spending too much time on their devices, we have some screen free activity ideas from a private school in London below.
Introduce a Reward Scheme
If we’re going to be honest, it will be near impossible to completely cut out screen time – especially as they will be needed for homework etc. What you can do is create a reward system whereby it must be earned. That way you will be able to get them to do what you want, e.g., their chores and homework without completely depriving them.
Look for Alternatives
If you’re struggling to scale back, consider replacing screen time with other fun activities, like baking for example. While it may seem time consuming and perhaps tedious,
It’s a rewarding process that can’t be experienced sitting behind a screen.
Outdoor Sports
If your child enjoys gaming, why not look for games that you can play together as a family? Ditch the screens and head outside for a game of football. It will get them active whilst giving you time to bond as a family.
Lead by Example
It’s not really fair if you’re allowed your devices and they aren’t. It sends out mixed messages. To help them get on board with the new screen time rules that you’re implementing, try doing so yourself. Find other activities to occupy your time.
I hope this post offered some inspiration. For more like this, feel free to check out my other blogs.