6 Simple Tips to Give a Healthy Screen Time to your Child

An excess of everything is bad, and so is excessive screen time. But there are a lot of positive things you can gain out of healthy screen time, and so can your child.

If the child is supervised, given a limited amount of time to use the screen, and guided from the beginning, screen time can be beneficial to the child.

Related: Screen time and children: How much is too much?

According to the Indian Academy of Paediatrics and American Academy of Paediatrics, for children less than 2 years of age, screen time should be zero, except for the occasional video call with the family. Screens are addictive, and when we start introducing screens to the child early, they get used to them and find it difficult to avoid them. So, not introducing at a very young age is the key.

If the right content is shown and supervised, the screen can be beneficial too. So, if the child is using the screen, make sure the child is getting only healthy screen time.

0 Screen time for children below the age of 2 years

1. Delay Giving Screen to the Child

The later you introduce, the better it is. A toddler has no sense of what a screen is and doesn’t require it. All the child needs is time, and if you are giving the child proper time, the child will never ask for screens.
So, introduce the screen as late as possible. We all grew up without screens and had lots of other things to do. So, your child will find ways to be busy without the screen.

A child who is watching the screen early and too much can have a lot of problems, like speech delay, problems with fine and gross motor skills, difficulty concentrating, sleep deprivation, mental health issues, impaired vision, etc. This can be avoided by keeping the child busy with various things like puzzles, drawing and colouring, art and craft, outdoor play, singing and dancing, sports, etc.

2. Engage them in content that is beneficial for them

There is so much content online that the child can gain so much knowledge from. Rather than letting the child see violent and meaningless reels on YouTube, choose good content for your child.

I have never let my child scroll through YouTube or Facebook endlessly.

There is so much content online that can help in gaining something, or that is not violent, and the child can actually benefit from it. You need to search it and help your child engage with this content.

The screen time should be interactive, like games, which help in mental development for the children. If your child is watching the screen for say 15-20 minutes when you are busy doing something important or just taking a shower, it is okay, but make sure the child is watching something educational at that time rather than something making no sense at all.

If the parent can accompany the child while watching the screen, there is nothing like that. There are so many options available for a healthy screen time:

1. Daniel Tiger’s Neighbourhood
2. Sesame Street
3. Super Why
4. Sid the Science Kid
5. Word Girl
6. Baby Bus
7. Cocomelon Nursery Rhymes
8. Dave and Eva Nursery Rhymes
9. TED Education
10. Dora and Friends: Into the City
11. Arthur
12. Number Blocks
13. Little Einstein

And many more..

Watch the show or play the game with your child for the first time, and then they can continue on their own if you find it educational. There are several games which involve puzzles, numbers, colouring, drawing, etc., that you can find in the Play Store for your child.

3. Be there with them while they are using the screen

Always be around the child when the child is watching anything on the screen, to supervise and guide. Do not let the child watch on their own, as you would not know what the child is watching. There are a number of violent and aggressive shows which your child might be watching if not supervised. Once you are aware that the child is watching the right content, you can let them watch on their own. But remember to supervise in between. You can even block the content you find inappropriate for your child so that the child is not watching it again.

The other day I was waiting outside my daughter's class, and was reading a book, when a little girl approx 5 years of age, came and sat next to me. She had her mothers phone with her and was scrolling through youtube shorts nonstop. she was watching all kinds of adult content a child should never be shown. I asked her what was she watching and she just showed her screen to me and started smiling. I asked my next question, "You don't watch cartoons?" This is when the mother got suspicious that she was being judged and got up from where she was sitting and asked her daughter, "Why are you watching the reels bhaia watches?" and asked her to come and sit next to her and not disturb me. And you know how old is bhaia? He is 10 years old. 
Here there are a lot of questions?
1. Why was she watching such content, she is just 5?
2. Why does her brother watch such content, he is just 10?
3. The mother was more consious about me judging her (which I was not) rather than checking on what the child was watching?
After all this happened, she changed the video and switchedto a cartoon and when I asked her what is it, she said, "It has ghoosts in it." 
This girl is just 5 years old. Here is when parental supervision comes in. You need to see what your child is watching if you are giving them screen time and the focus should be healthy screen time. 

Watching on the big screen is a better option than watching on tablets or phones. You will be more aware of what they are watching, and also, the screen is big, so the child will have less strain on the eyes. Follow the 20-20-20 rule.

4. Fix screen time rules

Rules for screen time should be fixed. If the rules are fixed, the child is more comfortable following and abiding by them without any confusion.

1. There should be absolutely zero screen time during meals, homework, family time, outings, etc.
2. There should be no screen time at least 1 hour before bedtime.
3. Because of screen time, physical activity should not be hampered.
4. The academics of the child should not be affected.
5. The child should be supervised while using the screen.
6. The child should be told to avoid any kind of violent or aggressive content, may it be videos or games.
7. The young children should be restricted from using any kind of inappropriate website. The websites should be blocked.
8. Focus should be on healthy screen time. Try to show only educational videos to the child. There are plenty of series and websites which help kids to learn. These should be encouraged.
9. There should be a time when none of the family members use digital devices, and the time is used as bonding time with the family. Board games, cards, carom board, etc., can be played during this time.

5. No Screen Time Before Bed

There should be absolutely no screen time before bed. The child should be having dinner, reading books, and engaging with the family one hour before bedtime. This helps in having a sound and peaceful sleep.

If you are concerned about the screen time of your child, you can also contact your paediatrician, and he/she will help you and your child reduce it.

6. Lead by Example

Children do what they see. And if they see you are on the phone all the time, they will think it is the right thing to do, as you are their role model.

Do not be in front of the screen all the time, especially when you are spending time with your child. This will help in increasing the bonding with the child, as well as indirectly explaining to the child that the screen is just a source of entertainment for a little while.

Prefer to do only important work using the screen. Avoid watching too much TV or playing too many games, especially when the child is around.

Take Away Message

Screen time, if given according to the guidelines, can be beneficial for the children, provided the time is used to view educational videos and play logical games. The parent or the caregiver is responsible for it. There should strictly be no screen time for kids less than 2 years of age, except for the occasional video calling with friends and family.

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