Parenting is hard. Luckily, there’s a plethora of digital tools and services available to help. Videos, games, and smartphones provide enhanced educational, entertainment, and communication opportunities for kids, but too much screen-time is problematic. Excessive screen-time can cause poor sleep habits, low energy levels, and decreased focus, and create barriers to kids forming deeper connections. So, it’s important for parents to encourage healthy use of screentime and focus on balance. 

The Canadian Pediatric Society recommends no screen time for children under 2, less than an hour a day for 2-4-year-olds, and less than two hours of screen time daily for older kids. Child psychology and development experts say that 3-4 is a critical phase in kids’ lives because they learn a lot from social exchanges.

Be intentional with your communication and interactions with children. Let your child know that limiting their screen-time isn’t a punishment, and explain the benefits of enjoying screen-free activities. Parents tend to be more engaged and empathetic when they interact with their kids without screens, so take advantage of opportunities to connect with your children and model the behaviour you want to see. 

Parents reported that it’s easier to keep kids away from screens if they don’t see the adults in their lives using them constantly. They also say it’s easier to manage kids’ screen time when they’re younger or if there’s only one child to monitor. 

One of the best ways to strengthen your connection with your child is to simply talk to them. Actively listen, ask questions, and show interest in what your kids say. If your child is interested in a specific subject or activity, celebrate that and look for ways for them to engage with their interests more, and get involved yourself. 

You can also connect to your children screen-free by sharing your interests with them or talking to them about your family’s history or culture.

Talking can happen in the car, around mealtime or bed, or a er you’ve done something as a family; normalize conversation instead of resorting to screens for entertainment. By prioritizing in-person conversations, you create opportunities for moments of learning, laughter, and vulnerability, all of which reinforce bonds.

Another way to deepen your connection and pry children away from screens is to ask them to help you. For example, you can get your children to help with meal prep or get them to help with grocery shopping. 

Some parents say cooking with kids is a great activity because it meets several needs; it takes them away from screens, presents opportunities to teach them practical information and life skills, and can encourage more healthy food choices. 

Plus, involving kids in the cooking process slows things down, which also limits the opportunities for them to be in front of screens.

Experts encourage parents to get their kids involved with a variety of activities both inside and outside the home like, sports, arts and crafts, talent shows, game nights, art exhibits, and festivals. Make these activities part of your family’s routine.

Having a list or a schedule of activities is a helpful resource because they provide structure and options so that screentime isn’t the default, and families can pivot if they need to change plans. 

Because the goal isn’t just to get kids physically active or away from screens, but to form deeper connections, include them in generating ideas for the list. This will also increase buy-in. 

Parents can also try redirecting their kids’ screen-time from being passive to focus on something aligned to their interests; for example, tutorial videos or explanations.

It’s also helpful to establish rules around screen-use for example screen use. For during meal times, keeping devices in a centralized location, or creating specific times when devices can be used. This could also make it easier to supervise your children’s on-screen activities.

You can keep track of screen time via apps like Freedom or Forest, or by adjusting the settings on your devices and/or in-app that make tracking time spent in front of screens and setting limits simple.

If a child gets significantly more than 2 hours of screen time a day, staff- at SickKids suggest decreasing it every day for a week at a time, progressing towards the recommended time.

Marcus Medford | Contributing Writer