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11 Ways to Help Your Kids Break Free from Electronics and Get Outside




The various technological advancements have revolutionized the way of doing things in many aspects of human living. In particular, the growth of the screen technology through various technology devices has tremendously helped parents to kill boredom in the family, particularly among the children. However, without appropriate control, technology has negative implications on families, with particular concern relating to how the screen technology has negatively affected many children, who are spending much of their time pursuing such activities as playing video games, surfing through the Internet, and watching movies and famous TV programs.

Overindulgence of kids in electronics has tremendously affected how children lead their daily lives, with research indicating the high amount of time children spent on screens has significantly compromised their academic performance. However, with the absence of signals indicating that this growth of technology will stop at nothing, the parents should take the initiative of controlling their kids so that they break free from electronics and get outside to undertake other activities that they can boost their wellbeing.

In this post, expert writers from various best paper writing service providers share the tips that can significantly help you in limiting the screen time of your kids to a reasonably healthy level.



1. Be Sure to Model Electronic Use that is Healthy


Parents have a great role to play in determining the amount of time that their children spent viewing screens. To a greater extent, children tend to learn from their parents, and they usually try to imitate the behavior of their parents. For this reason, the first step towards limiting the amount of time that kids spent on screens is by parents limiting their time also.

It will only make little sense for a parent to try to discourage a kid to refrain from using electronics if all the parent cannot be identified with another activity in the house. Therefore, parents should be keen to ensure that they do not largely engage in activities that involve the use of electronics such as tablets, smartphones, and televisions. This behavior will teach the children to engage in other activities rather than viewing screens.

2. Parents Should Be Keen on Technological Developments


Currently, children are more technology savvy than their parents. One wonders where they learn some of these tech things from. But the fact is that most of the children have more knowledge of electronics than their parents and other adults.

According to a study by EduBirdie parents who are always up-to-date with the latest technological developments such as the newest social media sites or mobile phone apps are more likely to help kids break free from electronics.

Having this knowledge is critical in ensuring that a parent has the capacity of teaching their children about all the risks that may be associated with social media and various mobile phone apps. In addition, it will be nearly impossible for a parent to prevent their children from engaging in such activities as playing violent video games if the parent cannot understand the ratings of the game. As such, parents should make it a priority towards learning about the developments in electronics in order to clearly understand how they can affect their children.

3. Creation of Technology-Free Zones


Due to the dangers posed by electronics on the lives of the children, parents should be determined to ensure that their kids do not get overwhelmed by the dangers of increased use of electronics. As such, it may be appropriate for parents to create zones in the house whereby the use of electronics such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones is prohibited.

For instance, the areas that are reserved for studies, family conversations, and meals should become technology-free zones. Implementation of this attribute indicates that the family upholds great discipline towards the use of technology in the house, and will tremendously encourage the children to focus on other activities such as studies and constructive conversations with their parents.

4. Screen Media Should Not Be Allowed in the Children Bedrooms


In order to kill the boredom of the children, some parents have opted to ensure that the bedrooms of their kids have screen media such as TVs. However, some parents are not aware of the severity of damage this may impact their kids. This is because it not possible for the parents to effectively monitor how their kids utilize the screen media while there are in their bedroom. Computers, TVs, and video game systems should not be encouraged in the kid's bedrooms because they may engage in activities that may interfere with their sleep, and consequently other critical life endeavors such as academics.

5. Parents Should Consider Screen Time a Privilege


It is undeniable that screen technology has numerous advantages to both parents and children. For instance, kids can utilize screens to access numerous learning materials that can significantly boost their knowledge and academic performance. As such, when we talk of screen time, it may as well depend on what the kid is doing with the screen. If it is watching movies, TV shows, and video games, then that would have a negative impact on the kid when not appropriately controlled. However, when a kid utilizes screens to access learning materials for improved knowledge, then that is something that should be encouraged.

Despite this perception, parents should consider making screen time a privilege as opposed to a right. This indicates that as a parent, you should deprive you kid of such privileges as computer use or TV time that is considered to have a negative implication. This objective may be realized by setting the limit of the amount of time that a kid should spend on screens. You should never consider allowing you kid extra screen time as a reward despite their impressive deeds.

6. Encouragement of Non-Screen Activities


To a greater extent, kids utilize screens and other technologies for entertainment. However, this attribute of entertainment should not be overemphasized despite its essentiality towards the growth of your kid. For this reason, parents should seek to encourage their kids to engage in other activities that entertain them apart from engaging with the screens. As a parent, consider taking your child outside to play and interact with others.

You may also encourage other activities such as playing physical games or reading interesting books. This measure is critical in ensuring that the kids shift their attention from the screen technology, and tremendously helps in the growth of your child both emotionally, mentally, and physically. In fact, this measure helps in eliminating potential addiction of your kids to use of electronics.

7. Discuss with Children on the Risks Associated with Too Much Screen Time


Children tend to heed to the advice provided by people of higher authority such as parents and older siblings if such advice is administered in an appropriate manner. Based on this attribute, parents should strategize on the most effective ways that can be utilized in passing the idea that spending too much time on screens in not healthy for the kids. As such, the parents should ensure that the information reaches the kids clearly indicating the dangers of too much time on screens, and not simply implying that the parents do so out of their mean intentions.

As a parent, you should consider explaining to your kids how harmful it is for them to overdo movies, video games, and other activities that are possible through screen use. In addition, it is essential for parents to discuss with their children on the risks associated with online predators, and plan on how a family can work together and collaborate towards reducing the potential dangers.

8. Parents Should Exercise Control Over What their Kids View on Screens


Parents have the capability of controlling the activities of their kids with the screens. The most critical attribute is ensuring that the children are protected from accessing and viewing explicit content through online platforms or TVs. In this regard, parents should consider utilizing parental controls that give them an opportunity of monitoring what their children are doing online and what they view on TV.

Parental controls may include obtaining passwords for the electronic devices that belong to the kids. These passwords will ensure that a parent tracks the activities of their kids through any online or social media accounts. Parents should also create rules relating to social media and the various services that the kids have the mandate to participate in. The significance of exercising parental controls is because some kids do not have the maturity of handling online problems such as cyberbullying, and thus parents have the responsibility to ensure that the kids remain safe as they utilize social media.

9. Be a Storyteller


Children are largely utilizing screen technology and other electronics because of lack of sufficient time with their parents to converse. As a matter of fact, modern society is losing much of the traditions because of the inability of parents to pass what they know about their history and heritage to their kids. Based on this attribute, parents should consider telling their children stories regarding their past experiences and some of the childhood places they visited.

As a parent, tell your children how you developed some special connections with specific attributes in your home such as a backyard. You may encourage your kids to identify some place that they feel a special place in nature, which may help the children develop some intimate connection in nature whereby they can undertake some activities that ensure that they are outside the house without the screens.

10. Consider Adopting a "Sunny Day Rule"


According to Susan Anderson, the author of papersowl reviews, when a family has the tendency of staying indoors for long time periods, boredom takes control and everyone may find themselves on the wrong side of concentrating on the screens. As such, parents should seek to establish rules that encourage the kids to move out and build something that helps in their creativity. During the rainy days, parents may need to show their kids about the joy that comes such activities as lead boating, ditch damming, and puddle stomping. These activities significantly limit the amount of time the kids spent on screens.

11. Ensure That You Are Part of Your Kid's Screen Time


Ann Hines, a lab report writer and an expert in the baby development sector says that screen time for the kids should not always be alone time. This implies that parents should seek to co-engage, co-play, and co-view with the children as they use screens as a way of encouraging learning, bonding, and interactions. As a parent, you may consider playing a video game with the children, which helps in demonstrating gaming etiquette and sportsmanship.

You may also consider watching a show with them as it helps in introducing and sharing your perspectives, life experiences, and guidance. Therefore, parents should not simply monitor the activities of the children online. It is always good to interact with them as a way of understanding their activities and becoming part of it.



There is no doubt that digital and media devices form an integral part of today's world. However, with most of the kids already on the wrong side of the screen technology, parents have the responsibility of ensuring that their kids break free from electronics and get outside to pursue other activities.

Technology has simplified our lives, we can communicate and do a lot of things with its help, students can seek assignment help via the internet but we must admit that it can cause dangers to our kids.

The 11 tips provided are effective in realizing this cause, and parents and guardians have the responsibility of ensuring the technology does not compromise the lives of their kids as they prepare to become independent individuals in the future.




Author's bio lines:

Joe McLean is a dedicated freelance writer for Assignment Holic UK, mostly in education and self-improvement area, and also he works as an online consultant with australian assignment help and assignment writing help, as he has a huge experience in writing and blogging.

 

 

Internet4classrooms is a collaborative effort by Susan Brooks and Bill Byles.
 

  

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