Here Are Some Ways You Can Kick Your Kid’s Screen Habit To The Curb

Are you worried that your kids have been spending too much time in front of a screen these days? Be it their obsession to reach the next level of their favorite game or taking amazing clicks of themselves, it is like they don’t look away from the screen even for a second. You may have also found your kiddos worrying about their success in a game. Or, whining to stay inside rather than outdoors to watch a cartoon on YouTube. So, it is bound to get you tensed and concerned as a parent. After all, if you step out with your children and they spend their entire time on their phone, it may make you feel a little disconnected too. But, don’t you worry, there are several tricks that you can use to help your kids kick their electronic habits. Here, we bring you some of these ways:

In This Article

1. Limit The “Me” Time

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If you own a desktop computer, you may want to keep it in a common space like the living room. This will help restrict your kids in some way, especially if they are compulsive gamers. When kids know that their parents are aware of what they are up to on the internet, they feel a little hesitant to see or play what they want to freely. Unfortunately, it is a little trickier to control when it comes to tablets or smartphones. If they are playing on your device, you may want to take it back from them. Try to be nice about it like you can say that you need it or something. This may help to a certain extent.

2. Enable Password Protection

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In the hands of kids, credit cards can be a real nuisance because they can make unintentional purchases online. For instance, they may buy a premium pack of some mobile app or just buy all those “freemium” jewels available on Candy Crush Saga. This is where passwords step in like a savior. Enable password protection in all the places where credit card purchases are a possibility. Another important thing is not to share passwords with children or not choose the ones that they can be easily guessed. These restrictions may help bring down the screen time a bit.

3. Keep Some Buffer

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If you suddenly snatch something away from kids, they can easily get upset and may even throw a temper tantrum. So, if you know that it’s time for dinner in another ten minutes, give them a heads up. This might help avoid all the teary meltdown. Let them know that the “game” time is about to run out so that they have enough buffer time to prepare themselves for what’s about to come.

4. Who’s The Boss?

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If you notice that the early warning is not really making a difference, know that you are still in charge. If the compulsive screen habit becomes an issue, it may be time to become strict and choose the obvious course. It might be time to sternly restrict their access to tablets, smartphones, or any other gadget.

5. Try To Engage With Them

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Some kids spend extra time on the phone just out of boredom. So, you may want to try filling in their time with interesting activities that don’t involve gadgets. You can take your children away for a long drive or a walk in the garden. For the long run, you might want to enroll them in some of their favorite activities too, such as sports, dancing, or some other extracurricular activity.

We can understand that you must be very worried. But, don’t get worked up. Try to incorporate these tips into your life and see how it works out for you. Also, set an example for your kids as they tend to mimic your activities at a young age; seeing you not indulge in your phone may encourage them to kick the habit too. Good luck!

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