How to manage your kids’ screen time

While it’s all too easy to hand the kids an iPad just so you can get a nanosecond of peace, we all know that too much screen time leads to screen addiction (and not just for the little ones – grown-ups, too!). Here’s our top tips for how to manage it…

1. Talk about it

If kids understand why you’re taking their beloved iPad away, they (might) be more receptive to the idea and more likely to get on board with it.

2. Set the rules (together)

If you’re going to set rules, get the kids involved in creating them first, and lead by example and follow them too. There go the phones at the dinner table…

3.

Offer alternatives

It’s fine to limit screen time, but there need to be alternatives to keep the kids entertained. Get outdoors and avoid square eyes, or have this list of indoor options handy for alternatives.

4. Show programmes on the TV (not a device)

It’s a much easier discussion if you use your TV for your kids to watch things. It isn’t portable, so there’s no negotiation about whether they can watch something while you’re out at a cafe; it’s simply only available at home.

5. Make it educational

We don’t want to bash technology because, let’s be honest – there are A LOT of great things about it. So if your kids are going to be using devices, try and spend a proportion of that time on valuable activities. Need inspo? Check out this list of useful websites for kids.

6. Use an app

There are loads of apps out there to help you control your kids’ screen time and device usage (and we’re not talking nanny apps that monitor them). Instead, there is a range of free apps that can help to track, lock and limit your little people’s device usage without resorting to all-out espionage.

Good luck, parents!