Healthy Kids
Practical Ways to Manage Your Family's Screen Time
05 April 2016 - by Cheryl - YMCA Child Care
In a world with smartphones, tablets, TVs, computers and video game consoles, there's no denying that screen time has increased at an exponential rate over the past few years.
Here are some surprising findings about screen time from ParticipACTION’s 2015 survey:
Research shows sedentary screen time affects our children's mental and physical health including:
Limiting your children's screen time might seem like an impossible task but it is one worth tackling. Need inspiration? Read on.
Value family meals - It's estimated 68% of school-aged children eat with the TV on.
Make dinner time family time and spend time talking about the good and not so good parts of your day. Turn off the TV and don't bring phones or tablets to the dinner table.
Use screens in a different way - If you have video game-loving kids, choose ones that require players to get off the couch to play the game.
Try your hand at geocaching - head outdoors and use your smartphone to find hidden treasures around the neighbourhood.
Encourage different ways of play - We know about the benefits of playtime for babies but do your school-aged children know how to play without tech devices and gadgets?
Sports, outdoor time, and hobbies can minimize the time spent behind the screen.
Looking for more ideas? Check out our Kids Activities and Play Based Learning Pinterest boards to learn how to incorporate play into your family's schedule.
Here are some surprising findings about screen time from ParticipACTION’s 2015 survey:
- Children in Grades 6 to 12 spend close to 8 hours a day in front of a screen
- Only 9% of 5 to 17 year olds get the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day
- 15% of children 3 to 4 years old follow the Canadian Paediatric Society's guideline of less than 1 hour of screen time a day
Research shows sedentary screen time affects our children's mental and physical health including:
- Restless sleep
- Making poor food choices
- Inability to focus at school
- Increasing the risk of childhood obesity
Limiting your children's screen time might seem like an impossible task but it is one worth tackling. Need inspiration? Read on.
Value family meals - It's estimated 68% of school-aged children eat with the TV on.
Make dinner time family time and spend time talking about the good and not so good parts of your day. Turn off the TV and don't bring phones or tablets to the dinner table.
Use screens in a different way - If you have video game-loving kids, choose ones that require players to get off the couch to play the game.
Try your hand at geocaching - head outdoors and use your smartphone to find hidden treasures around the neighbourhood.
Encourage different ways of play - We know about the benefits of playtime for babies but do your school-aged children know how to play without tech devices and gadgets?
Sports, outdoor time, and hobbies can minimize the time spent behind the screen.
Looking for more ideas? Check out our Kids Activities and Play Based Learning Pinterest boards to learn how to incorporate play into your family's schedule.
