It’s raining or snowing again. It’s cold and miserable outside. It’s also Christmas holidays and you have the kids underfoot. What’s a parent to do?
Well, let’s face it. Screens beckon. Whether it’s a laptop, tablet, smart phone or TV, the kids will be entertained and happy. It’s hard to beat.
Of course, we know better. We need to limit screen time.
Kids need a balance of moving, sleeping and sitting. But they are not achieving this balance. The use of screens is increasing their sedentary time.
“Parents and caregivers must help young children move, sleep and sit the right amounts,” says Elio Antunes, president and CEO of ParticipACTION.
“If kids are too tired to get enough physical activity during the day, and not active enough to be tired at night, it can become a vicious cycle. We need to limit screen time and encourage children to participate in a range of enjoyable and safe play-based and organized physical activities in a variety of spaces, places and seasons, in all types of weather.”
Starting with our youngest children, kids under the age of two should not be experiencing any screen time. That includes the bad habit of leaving the TV on as background or using your laptop around the kids.
You may think they aren’t paying attention but they are seeing it and taking in more than you imagine.
As your child grows, keep in mind that too much or poor-quality screen time has been linked to obesity, irregular sleep schedules and shorter duration of sleep, behavioural problems, loss of social skills, violence and less time for play.
The trick is to limit the amount of time they spend in front of screens and when they are enjoying screen time ensure that they are watching quality programs or playing quality games.
If we start when they are very young, they will grow up learning that they are permitted screen time but only for limited amounts of time.
To ensure the quality of their screen time, pay attention to what they are watching.
Watch with them as much as possible and talk about what’s happening.
One advantage of doing this with your preschoolers is that they tend to like to watch the same shows or play the same games over and over so even if you’re busy in the kitchen you know what they’re up to.
If you’re stuck in the house what can you do to keep the kids busy?
Give the kids the chance to be creative. Maybe you can offer some sheets or blankets and suggest they build a fort.
Then bring them lunch or a snack that they can eat picnic style in their lovely fort.
Despite the weather have the kids get outside to play. Dress them against the weather and let them go.
Depending on the weather, let them make a snowman, splash in the puddles or slide on the ice.
Even a short outdoor playtime will do wonders for their moods, their appetites and their ability to sleep well.
With older kids a major concern is that their sleep is interrupted when they receive texts during the night.
Have the kids (and their parents for that matter) put all their electronics outside the bedroom.
Set up a charging station in the kitchen so all the instruments live away from the bedrooms overnight.
It’s also a great time to involve the grandparents who will happily show up to play games, to introduce them to cards or table games.
There is a time and place for screen time. Just make sure your kids have a balance of moving, sleeping and sitting.
Kathy Lynn is a parenting expert who is a professional speaker and author. If you want to read more, sign up for her informational newsletter at parentingtoday.ca.
