ENTERTAIN KIDS WITHOUT
GADGET
Reduce Screen Time — How to guide your child
Aim: Good
Parenting
Written
by: Kunnampallil Gejo John, Speech Language Pathologist
Introduction
Present
world, busy schedule of the parents are lacking to care their child properly,
all are depending upon technology to simplify the work. Did parents think
about, good parenting? How to manage the child education? How to grow their
child as good citizen? How to spend time with child? How to play or entertain
child through proper communication?
Most
of the parent has their own explanations; think about your child, they are
future citizen. Good parenting is worth for child’s future and its asset.
Screens are everywhere, Technology
plays vital role in our daily lives. These include electronic games, home
computers, handheld devices, and different type of gadgets. Gadgets are popular
in children and as
likely in elders addiction of screen play is
increasing day by day, it will make child’s entire life in prison and insane.
If parents, are willing to realize the fact and become a good parent, save your
child as soon as possible.
Scientific Facts:
Our cell phones, tablets, computers and other electronic gadgets have
become such a huge part of our daily lives that it’s often hard to put them down—even
at bedtime. Keeping your phone on your nightstand may not seem like a big deal,
but technology affects your sleep in more ways than you realize
The blue light emitted by screens on cell phones, computers,
tablets, and televisions restrain the production of melatoni, the hormone that controls your sleep/wake cycle
or circadian rhythm. Reducing
melatonin makes it harder to fall and stay asleep. Make your bedroom a
technology-free zone—keep your electronics outside the room (that includes a
TV…)
How Screen play and Electronic
gadgets affects in child’s life ?
Unstructured playtime put your
child into trouble:
Ø Obesity
Ø Restrains
Social Relationships
Ø Irregular
sleep schedules and shorter duration of sleep
Ø Behavioral
problems
Ø Loss
of social skills
Ø Violence
Ø Less
time for play
Ø Attention
deficit hyperactive disorder
Ø Anxiety
Ø Delay
in speech and language skills
Ø Poor
fine motor skills
Ø Academic
issues
Ø Hampers
Cognitive Development
Ø Delayed
Physical Development
Ø Sense
of Isolation
Ø Strain
on the Eyes
Ø Triggers
Neck & Back Pain
Ø Affect
sharing
Ø Radiation
Exposure
Ø Negative impact on character
Ø Childhood depression and mood
changes
Ø Learning Problems
SETTING
SCREEN TIME LIMITS FOR OLDER CHILDREN
Set reasonable limits for your
child's screen time, especially if your child's use of screens is hindering his
or her involvement in other activities. Consider these tips:
·
Prioritize unplugged, unstructured playtime.
·
Create tech-free zones or times, such as during mealtime or one
night a week.
·
Discourage use of media entertainment during homework.
·
Set and enforce daily or weekly screen time limits and curfews, such
as no exposure to devices or screens 1 hour before bedtime.
·
Consider using apps that control the length of time a child can
use a device.
·
Require your children to charge their devices outside of their
bedrooms at night.
·
Keep screens out of your child's bedroom.
·
Limit your own screen time.
·
Eliminate background TV.
GUIDELINES
FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS TO REDUCE THE
IMPACT OF EXCESSIVE
SCREEN TIME
Ø Crafting
Ø Read stories
Ø Baby chef
Ø Outdoor Games
Ø Indoor Tent
Ø Obstacle course
Ø Treasure hunt
Ø Hot and cold game
Ø Board games
Ø Solve Puzzles
Ø Pillow fight
Ø Music chair
Ø Passing ball
Ø Try Gardening
Ø
Tea-Party
Ø Songs and
dance
Ø
Engage with Grandparents
Ø Visit
different places
THE POSITIVE
IMPACT OF GADGET USE
In
other hand, there are many
skills which will help in reasoning, remembering and relating objects with
other objects. These skills are directly related to memory, and language. Now a day’s technology helps faster and
better development of cognitive skills in kids.
More fun for kids
Competition skills
Educating
student
Make
the child busy
EASY WAYS TO DEAL WITH CHILDREN’S BEHAVIOR
DO’s
Ø
Work on your own behavior
Ø Practice what to say
Ø Encourage Good Behavior
Ø Understand your child
Ø Give Instructions Effectively
DONT’s
Ø Don’t React
Ø Don’t tell the world
Ø Don’t break promises
Ø Don’t smack them
Ø
Don’t entertain second chances
Conclusion
Everything is good if you use screen time in a positive way
or bad if we use it in a negative way. Some suggestions have been given above
to help parents about limiting their child’s exposure to gadgets/screen play.
This is difficult to keep them away from gadgets but we can limit their time. Always
parent or caretaker should guide while using electronic gadgets Small children
can use gadget an hour a day and two hours a day for school going children.
Good sleep is also necessary for good health.
References:
1.
Subrahmanyam K, Kraut RE, Patricia M.
Greenfield PM, Gross EF (2000) The impact of home computer
uses on children’s activities and development. Future Child 10: 123-144
2.
Jonathan LP, Andrew LF (2016) Depression in children and adolescents. University
of Kansas, Clinical Child Psychology Program.
3.
Subrahmanyama K, Patricia G, Robert K, Elisheva
G (2001) The impact of computer use on children's and
adolescents' development. Appl Develop Psychol 22: 7-30.
4.
Rowan C (2009) The impact of technology on child sensory and motor
development. Making Sense of Sensory Processing Disorder.
