The Bright side of Technology & Screen Time

Living in a virtual world Once limited to TVs and PCs, personal electronic devices now include tablets, smartphones and laptop computers, all of which are easy to access and transport. While this technology expands the academic experience (and enables students to learn material in new ways) it also comes with a few serious caveats: Studies link screen time with depression, anxiety and interrupted sleep, among other concerns. The best way to protect your children: Strike a balance between screen time and real-life human interaction. The pros of screen time In addition to acting as a vehicle for information, screens and digital technology offer the following advantages: • They act as a tool for communicating with friends and family. • Smartphone apps can help encourage kids to adopt healthful behaviours, such as regular exercise, healthier food choices and better sleep. • Screens encourage learning. Some screen activities allow kids to learn new information in engaging ways. How to become screen time savvy As a parent, it’s your job to be aware of how your child spends his or her time as well as the role screens play in their health and well-being. Watch how your children react to screen time and how they behave when screens are taken away. Do you notice significant behavioural problems when you nix screens? Does your child exhibit tantrums or outbursts? If so, then screen time might require tighter controls. Try these six strategies to rein in your child’s screen time:  Focus on academics. Make screen use related to schoolwork or other developmentally appropriate academic subjects’ top priority, and set clear boundaries around other uses.  Delay giving smartphones to kids. Put off giving your children smartphones until they hit high school, if possible.  Set limits. Children between the ages of two and five should use screens for less than one hour per day, according the American Academy of Paediatrics. For older kids, two hours is a good limit and be sure to be consistent when setting limits. When it comes to smartphones, use parental control software to limit text messaging and Internet access.  Establish screen-free zones. Make sure everyone in your family – adults and kids alike – follow certain rules with regard to screens. A few solid examples: no screens during meal times, no smartphone use while driving and no screens of any type in the bedroom.  Emphasize educational use. You can use educational content to teach your children about the world. Just make sure you’re part of the program. View the content with the child and then connect with them about what you learned.  Be a good role model. Right or wrong, your child is programmed to follow your lead. If you text through dinner, keep your phone on the nightstand and stop mid-thought to read an email, you’re teaching your children that screens take priority.