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babysitter during the 7 weeks of lockdown. Of course, my daughter was really excited to have it - she could sit with it for 2 hours and give me a chance to do what I needed to. We also realize that, during that time, my daughter wasn’t interested in family time such as doing puzzles, art, and craft or even running around the backyard - there was a change in her behavior and most likely due to the iPad. I am sure most whānau are facing these challenges now; somedays I do have regrets about introducing technology to her at an early age. Just like me, of course, if you desire a well-balanced family - then it’s going to take a little more work, time, and effort. YouTube can’t do it all for you, we’re sure you don’t want tech to babysit your kids, from toddlers to teens. Together we’ll get more specific further down in this article on helpful family screen time, where I share some thoughts and ideas which I have applied with my daughter which saw some positive changes. Dear parents, there’s no doubt that when using screen time appropriately, it can be an asset to your child’s development and childhood experience. Firstly, you cannot wish it away or keep kids away from it, but you can reduce its impact on your children. Kids are more vulnerable than adults when it comes to spending too much time with gadgets and this can affect many aspects of family life. According to World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, no screen time for kids up to two years old and no more than one to four for children between the ages of two and four years. Now you know screen time doesn’t have to be an either/or proposition. Limiting screen time can enable your child to reap the benefits of using technology without experiencing the drawbacks. The risk of too much screen time versus defining the right amount of screen time for children is debatable. For example, have you ever binge watched Netflix, rolling from episode to episode until you were braindead? Well, that can happen to kids too. Risks can be further categorized into short-term and long-term risks, keeping in mind that short-term risks can develop into permanent obstacles if left unchecked. There are a lot of risks if we start reading up on screen time, but I have narrowed it down to the general risks that we could face. I have also gone through these risks with my girls before reading further on introducing screen time to preschoolers. These are the effects of too much screen time with preschoolers.

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• Development issue: Studies have found that kids between the ages of 2 and 5 years showed delayed development when they interacted more with screens which may cause growth issues in their later lives, especially delays in speech for those under 2. It was proven that kids younger than 30 months have limited ability to learn from video, they learn more from live interaction.

• Behaviour problems and depression:

Kids constantly exposed to technology may fail to develop the social skills needed and may never emotionally develop to process different situations.

Also linked with an increased possibility of attention problems in children. • Sleep distribution: The blue light used in electronics can disrupt your child’s much-needed sleep which can lead to insomnia and digital eye strain. • Mental health issue: Higher risk of

ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) for pre-schoolers who spend two hours or more looking at a screen each day. • Addiction: Eventually spending too much time on screen will create the urge to need more - just like us, who are so addicted to Facebook, Instagram, etc. To help make wise parenting decisions - it helps to firstly understand what your ultimate goals are regarding screen time with your children and what the place it has in your home. These choices can help set your child up for the success you know they deserve and can achieve.

How do make the most of screen

time for kids? You can follow these tips recommended by the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) in 2016 for successfully using screen time for kids. • Co-watch whenever possible – Coviewing and engaging with your child during screened activities can encourage social interaction and build relationships. • Set limits – Set a time frame for screen time, for example after an hour of watching I try to switch to an educational app where we both can join in and play a game for 30 minutes before I ask her to put down the iPad. Or I get her to act out or share what she watched.

• Keep bedtime, mealtime, and family

time screen-free – Don’t allow your child to watch an iPad or TV while having a meal or watching screen 30 minutes before going to bed. That can affect their attention to food and keep the mind active in sleep. • Pay attention – Fully vet what your children are watching. Though some of you would have downloaded YouTube kids, which you think is safe, do explore them every time they watch.

• Develop a reward-based system –

For example, a chart that tracks good behaviour can decide if screen time has been earned through healthy behaviour or if more chores or time outside is needed. • Be a good example – “Do as I say, not as I do” only works sometimes. Limit your own phone use because kids will do what they see their parents doing. In the evenings go ahead and put your phone away until your kid’s bedtime – you’ll be a great role model for your kids. All the experts acknowledge that the use of digital devices by children in moderation is not harmful and has a place in our lives. We need to understand that we have

created a world where we’re constantly in touch and tapped into everything that’s going on. Hopefully, my supporting research and tips will be beneficial so that now you can understand both the good and bad that can go along with the use of technology and screens.

Rideout, Vicky (2017). “The Common-sense census: Media use by kids aged zero to eight”. Common Sense Media. Nickerson, Sam (8 November 2019). “Too Much Screen Time May Be Slowing Childhood Brain Development”. Ecowatch. Retrieved 10 November 2019. Reichel, Chloe; May 14, Journalist’s Resource; 2019 (14 May 2019). “The health effects of screen time on children: A research roundup”. Journalist’s Resource. Retrieved 9 November 2019. February 22; 2019 (8 February 2019). “How Much Screen Time is Too Much?”. Scripps Health. Retrieved 8 November 2019. American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Communications and Media. (2011). Media use by children younger than 2 years (Pol-icy Statement). Pediatrics, 128(5), 1040–1045. https://doi.org/10.1542/ peds.2011-1753 “This Place Just Made it Illegal to Give Kids Too Much Screen Time”. Time. Retrieved 8 November 2019 Byeon, Haewon; Hong, Saemi; Lin, Haotian (18 March 2015). “Relationship between Television Viewing and Language Delay in Toddlers: Evidence from a Korea National Cross-Sectional Survey”. PLOS ONE. 10 (3): e0120663. Bibcode:2015PLoSO..1020663B. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0120663. PMC 4365020. PMID 25785449. Nickerson, Sam (8 November 2019). “Too Much Screen Time May Be Slowing Childhood Brain Development”. Ecowatch. Retrieved 10 November 2019.