The Best Screen Time Breaks For Kids
With the sudden need for remote learning, many schools are offering laptops to students, increasing the number of screens in a single household. Due to this unprecedented time, it can be difficult to manage screen time. Many children have used screens as a leisure tool at home, but now this tool has been transitioned to a learning tool.
Limits on screen time are now different with the sudden need for remote learning access, but there are still boundaries that can be utilized to limit screen time.
- Apart from learning time, it's important for your child to still be offered unstructured screen time so that they can do what they like and retain screen time for leisure.
- If possible, use two different computers, assigning one as a ‘learning computer’ and another as a ‘break/fun computer’.
- Try to keep a regular schedule. It is helpful for your child to have a specific schedule. This structure allows kids to know what to expect and limits how often the child asks for more screen time.
- Create a technology free zone, make one room in the house technology free such as the dining room or kitchen so those areas are reserved for meals and family conversations.
- Educate yourself and your child on electronics and the dangers.
- It's important to model healthy screen time use and limiting the parents screen use.
- Help your child make an activity menu that lists non-screen activities that they can do if they are bored or need a break. Having choices already written out will help the transition from screen to non-screen.
Examples of activities for your non-screen list:
- Playing with a ball
- Playing with a pet
- Doing arts and crafts
- Playing with sensory materials
- Cooking
- Outside play
Are you looking for play-based activities for your screen time breaks? Busy Little Learners follows a play-based & multi-sensory approach to teaching & learning. As part of the program, you will receive a multisensory kit that contains age appropriate activities and materials to teach and develop hand skills, build hand strength, as well as the motor planning for proper letter and number formation. Play plans are also provided and include visual icons to show your child how to use the tools as well as complete the activity. The best part, only 20 minutes of play a day is all you need to get your child on the road to success.
Your child will create, investigate and explore through the use of bright colors, silly scents & fun textures for a healthy, SCREEN FREE sensory lifestyle and success in learning and beyond.
PLAY IS THE WAY
References:
Morin, A. (2020). How to limit your child’s screen time . Retrieved from https://www.verywellfamily.com/tips-for-limiting-electronics-and-screen-time-for-kids-1094870