There have been times when children misbehave, are cranky or throw a tantrum and parents simply pull out their phones or tablets, start some sort of video or game and hand it over to the children. This is a quick-fix solution which most parents use today.
How does screen time affect my child?
Sleep
Many studies have shown that exposure to bright blue light in the evening can affect your circadian rhythms and make it harder to fall asleep. Children, and even adults, find it more difficult to sleep if they have been using a screen at night just prior to sleeping. Even Apple has acknowledged this issue and have come out with “Night Shift” where the colours become warmer (more yellowish).
Less Physical Activity
A child would rather sit and play games and watch videos than go out and play. If left unchecked, this could lead to obesity.
Shorter Attention Span and Difficulty in Concentrating
All games are designed to keep the player engaged and provide instant gratification at various stages such as level ups, etc. This means every few mins something new is happening and once it finishes something else which is even better will start and so on. This is not the case in real life and hence once kids are used to this pace, it is very difficult to keep them focused on things in the real world. We see a lot of cases of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) now.
How do I limit my child’s screen time?
Set Clear Limits
Right from the start it’s very important to set clear limits on screen time. Create a simple schedule, for example a 30-minute iPad session for games or video per day. There may be exceptions in the case of holidays, travel, etc. There are also a couple of apps to help you manage your kid’s screen schedule.
One of the most popular apps is YouTube Kids. It’s a kid friendly app from YouTube. Profiles can be created for multiple kids. The most important feature is the Timer where parents can set a fixed time for watching.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTIqrH6R10o
Prioritisation
Simple techniques like “until so-and-so is done, there will be no iPad time” will help a child understand priorities. A ban on all devices during meal times is also a good option. This will create an atmosphere for communication. Also, it is extremely important that the iPad or any sort of screen is not used close to bedtime.
Lead by Example
No child will listen to anything if they see their parents and the adults around them doing the very things they are being told not to do. The best way to set up a system of rules is to follow them yourself. That would include no devices during meal times.
I don’t claim to be an expert on the subject, but I’ve read a lot of articles and have just stated my opinions logically.