If you think that adults have a strange addiction to their devices, wait until you see the most recent statistics on screen usage among children. According to the latest reports, at least 50% of teens feel so addicted to their mobile phones that they spend about 8 hours a day on their screens. What’s more, a whopping 75% feel compelled to respond to messages as soon as they receive them. But it is not just teens who cannot get enough of their screens. Over 54% of parents believe that their children aged 13 and below have screen addictions. And according to studies, over 30% of parents reported that their children started using screens before age 5, suggesting this habit has been forming for a while.

But if screen addiction is so prevalent, what can parents do to protect their children while also allowing them to explore all the perks that digital devices have to offer?

How to Balance Screen Time for Children

No matter how old you are, there is always room for learning because new information is always coming to light. Take aircraft technicians as an example. While they already know a lot about planes, they often turn to experts like Magnetic Training to teach them about emerging processes in the aviation industry. This way, they can build on the wealth of knowledge they already have, enabling them to make informed decisions.

Your children are the same way. Though it may look like they are set in their ways and would not agree to spending time away from their screens, researchers have found that making a few changes at home can help your children let go of their devices. How?

Carving Out Screen-Free Family Time

It’s not just children who spend time on their screens. Adults, too, can get caught up in scrolling. In fact, global statistics show that adults spend 6.5 to 7.5 hours on screens each day. And since children tend to copy the norm, they see no problem with glueing their eyes to screens.

Thus, for parents to convince their children that entertainment can exist outside the screens, they have to lead by example.

Along these lines, experts recommend setting aside daily or weekly screen-free periods for parents and children to bond. You could talk to each other, play games, have dinner, go on walks, etc. Find something that you can all enjoy so that you can all be present and reconnect between work and school.

Actively Listening to Children

Children can sometimes turn to screens when they feel misunderstood or neglected. And often, this stems from parents being so busy that they barely take the time to fully listen to their children. Unfortunately, this creates a divide where children learn to keep to themselves or seek validation from online communities.

As a parent, you can connect with your child better by listening to what they have to say rather than just hearing them. Doing so requires you to be quiet while they talk, maintain eye contact, and take time to process their words or emotions before responding. The more that you do this, the more that you create a safe space where they feel comfortable coming to you with their worries instead of relying on social media or other online communities, which may lead them astray.

Living Intentionally

Modern-day life is often so busy that it feels chaotic. Children are often affected by these ups and downs, and they find themselves dealing with irregular home schedules that leave them unsettled.

Since children crave and do better with routines, you can create a stable environment for them by establishing and sticking to a regular routine. It should dictate things such as bedtime routines, family hangouts, and other aspects that contribute to nurturing their overall well-being, which can boost their emotional resilience and reduce their reliance on screens.