Your children spend most of their time in front
of a television or computer screen? Some children spend up to ten hours each
day playing video and computer games.
That's a lot of screen time. The following tips will help you to exercise some control over what, how much and when your children participate in media so that you can protect them from the potential harm that it can do:-
That's a lot of screen time. The following tips will help you to exercise some control over what, how much and when your children participate in media so that you can protect them from the potential harm that it can do:-
- Make sure you always know what they are watching and that it is appropriate for their age and level of maturity. Children need limits and look to you for guidance.
- You might consider allowing them to make choices from a few select alternatives. As you set these limits, be sure to communicate your reasons and values. This will help them make wise choices when you are not immediately available to direct them.
- If you can’t always sit and watch with your children, make sure to walk through the room where they are watching from time to time to monitor what is on the TV. When it comes to playing video games, it is better for children to play with other children. They can share interests, cooperate and gain interpersonal skills by interacting with others.
- Meal times are good times for conversation and interaction among family members. As a parent, you have a captive audience and should use this opportunity to talk to your children about what is going on in their lives. Eat dinner together as a family as much as possible. Create family traditions surrounding dinner time that will make your children look forward to it each day.