ENTERTAIN KIDS WITHOUT GADGET

Reduce Screen Time — How to guide your child

Aim: Good Parenting

Written by: Kunnampallil Gejo John, Speech Language Pathologist

Introduction

Present world, busy schedule of the parents are lacking to care their child properly,
all are depending upon technology to simplify the work. Did parents think about,
good parenting? How to manage the child education? How to grow their child as
good citizen? How to spend time with child? How to play or entertain child
through proper communication?

Most of the parent has their own explanations; think about your child, they are
future citizen. Good parenting is worth for child’s future and its asset.

Screens are everywhere, Technology plays vital role in our daily lives. These
include electronic games, home computers, handheld devices, and different type of
gadgets. Gadgets are popular in children and as likely in elders addiction of screen
play is increasing day by day, it will make child’s entire life in prison and insane.
If parents, are willing to realize the fact and become a good parent, save your child
as soon as possible.

Scientific Facts:

Our cell phones, tablets, computers and other electronic gadgets have become
such a huge part of our daily lives that it’s often hard to put them down—even at
bedtime. Keeping your phone on your nightstand may not seem like a big deal, but
technology affects your sleep in more ways than you realize

The blue light emitted by screens on cell phones, computers, tablets, and
televisions restrain the production of melatonin, the hormone that controls your
sleep/wake cycle or circadian rhythm. Reducing melatonin makes it harder to fall
and stay asleep. Make your bedroom a technology-free zone—keep your
electronics outside the room (that includes a TV…)

How Screen play and Electronic gadgets affects in child’s life ?

Unstructured playtime put your child into trouble:

 Obesity
 Restrains Social Relationships
 Irregular sleep schedules and shorter duration of sleep
 Behavioral problems
 Loss of social skills
 Violence
 Less time for play
 Attention deficit hyperactive disorder
 Anxiety
 Delay in speech and language skills
 Poor fine motor skills
 Academic issues
 Hampers Cognitive Development
 Delayed Physical Development
 Sense of Isolation
 Strain on the Eyes
 Triggers Neck & Back Pain
 Affect sharing
 Radiation Exposure
 Negative impact on character
 Childhood depression and mood changes
 Learning Problems
SETTING SCREEN TIME LIMITS FOR OLDER CHILDREN

Set reasonable limits for your child's screen time, especially if your child's use of
screens is hindering his or her involvement in other activities. Consider these tips:

• Prioritize unplugged, unstructured playtime.

• Create tech-free zones or times, such as during mealtime or one night a week.
• Discourage use of media entertainment during homework.
• Set and enforce daily or weekly screen time limits and curfews, such as no
exposure to devices or screens 1 hour before bedtime.
• Consider using apps that control the length of time a child can use a device.
• Require your children to charge their devices outside of their bedrooms at night.
• Keep screens out of your child's bedroom.
• Limit your own screen time.
• Eliminate background TV.

GUIDELINES FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS TO REDUCE THE

IMPACT OF EXCESSIVE SCREEN TIME

 Crafting

 Read stories

 Baby chef

 Outdoor Games

 Indoor Tent
  Obstacle course

 Treasure hunt

 Hot and cold game

 Board games

 Solve Puzzles

 Pillow fight

 Music chair

 Passing ball

 Try Gardening

 Tea-Party

 Songs and dance

 Engage with Grandparents

 Visit different places

THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF GADGET USE

In other hand, there are many skills which will help in reasoning, remembering and relating
objects with other objects. These skills are directly related to memory, and language. Now a
day’s technology helps faster and better development of cognitive skills in kids.

More fun for kids

Competition skills

Educating student

Make the child busy

EASY WAYS TO DEAL WITH CHILDREN’S BEHAVIOR

DO’s

 Work on your own behavior

 Practice what to say
 Encourage Good Behavior
 Understand your child
 Give Instructions Effectively

DONT’s
 Don’t React
 Don’t tell the world
 Don’t break promises
 Don’t smack them
 Don’t entertain second chances

Conclusion

Everything is good if you use screen time in a positive way or bad if we use it in a negative way.
Some suggestions have been given above to help parents about limiting their child’s exposure to
gadgets/screen play. This is difficult to keep them away from gadgets but we can limit their time.
Always parent or caretaker should guide while using electronic gadgets Small children can use
gadget an hour a day and two hours a day for school going children. Good sleep is also necessary
for good health.
References:

1. Subrahmanyam K, Kraut RE, Patricia M. Greenfield PM, Gross EF (2000) The impact of
home computer uses on children’s activities and development. Future Child 10: 123-144
2. Jonathan LP, Andrew LF (2016) Depression in children and adolescents. University of
Kansas, Clinical Child Psychology Program.
3. Subrahmanyama K, Patricia G, Robert K, Elisheva G (2001) The impact of computer use
on children's and adolescents' development. Appl Develop Psychol 22: 7-30.
4. Rowan C (2009) The impact of technology on child sensory and motor development.
Making Sense of Sensory Processing Disorder.

5. http://chuchutv.com/blog/15-ways-to-entertain-kids-without-gadget/

6. https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/the-impact-of-using-gadgets-on-children-2167-
1044-10

7. https://www.google.co.in/amp/s/parenting.firstcry.com/articles/parents-beware-this-is-
how-gadgets-are-harming-your-little-child/%3famp

8. https://www.sleep.org/articles/ways-technology-affects-sleep/

9. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/childrens-health/in-depth/screen-time/art-
20047952