As parents, we seem to be lectured about the dangers of screens and social media ad nauseam. The data is clear that kids who use screens excessively are more likely to be overweight or obese. Kids have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, which negatively impacts their physical health. Children who use screens are more aggressive and more likely to be anxious or depressed. They don’t develop robust emotional coping skills and they have higher levels of frustration. They also perform poorly in academics.
The problem is that, while all the experts are feeding parents the latest news about the negative effects of screens, very few are giving them tools to radically limit screens. Bay Street Pediatrics is here to provide strategies – supplying ideas of what you can offer your children that isn’t a screen.
If your youngster is playing a game on a device, it most likely involves digitized baking, building, or crafting. Take that into analog! Let your child bake, build and craft in real life. The steps of following a recipe or a design provide structure and purpose to this play. Giving small children a few bowls and some spoons can be the catalyst for imaginative play, and when you pretend to eat their creations, children will be simply delighted to include you in the game. Paper, crayons, modeling dough, scissors and tape can open up hours of creative activity for your child, and when you provide positive feedback at appropriate milestones, you’ll help your child develop emotional satisfaction on their own.
Taped old shipping boxes closed to make perfect lightweight building blocks. These can be decorated however your child likes, creating castles and towers. Add in cars and trucks and suddenly your child has an entire city of their own.
Screens are addictive because the apps provide structured play and positive feedback with animations, sounds, vibrations, and later, likes, follows, and shares – so gamify your screen alternatives! Instead of playing a game on a device, play with a physical game that can involve the whole family. Kids as young as three can play Candyland, and many games, like Science Trivia Challenge, will actually teach your older child without them even realizing they are learning.
Instead of watching a story; write a story. This can easily become part of a screen-free routine, as you ask your child to write about and illustrate part of their day while you are making dinner. Keep an eye on the child’s play and provide feedback to keep them engaged. You aren’t just replacing a game or a TV show, you’re replacing a whole interface uniquely designed to hold human attention.
We know that sometimes, you have to take a phone call, or need some quiet to work on something yourself. At these times, nonscreen media can step in. While books are a great place to start, a picture album, with family pictures, favorite characters, animals or art, can offer pages of vibrant surprises to keep your child engaged. If you can’t keep your child physically or visually distracted, try engaging their sense of hearing. The Cleveland Clinic says letting your child listen to a podcast doesn’t count as screen time if the screen isn’t involved. Download a few different audio versions of your kids’ favorite stories and have a (sort-of) screen-free option when you need to get through the next 5 minutes.
Ready a “Go Bag” of small toys and books that your child only plays with when you’re out and about, such as waiting for a meal in a restaurant, shopping in a store or at an older sibling’s extracurricular activity. Bring along the card game Uno which helps kids learn colors, numbers and simple directions. Forget the bag? Play I Spy with older kids and finger play like Itsy Bitsy Spider with younger ones. This can be a perfect time to practice “The Wheels On the Bus” and make up your own verses; who says a cow can’t get on the bus?
Talk your way through the grocery store, counting apples, pointing out different colors, and brainstorming your next meal. Even if your child is too young to answer you, you’re helping them develop language skills and getting them acquainted with new words and a larger vocabulary.
Excited about going screen-free but not sure how to get started? First, gather family together and explain why this is necessary and how it will benefit everyone in the end. Have an outline of screen alternatives and brainstorm more ideas with your family; you might be surprised how pumped everyone is to break the habit!
Having trouble with older kids? Message your Bay Street Pediatrics provider through your portal. We are here to help!