It’s convenient for sure these days to occupy your kid with the use of an iPad or a smartphone. There are more and more positive technologies that are proven to help kids & children. Technology innovations (Tech) are not negative if used in the right manner. It is also not a Boogeyman to be afraid of or never to use.
Kids and adults need to be comfortable with technology. Technology improvements will continue. That’s not going away. Tech is becoming more and more a part of our daily life. But like most things, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.
Parents need to set consistent limits on screen time and social media consumption in their houses. Too much can lead to several negative issues/outcomes. (https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/tv-affects-child.html)
How much screen time is too much?
See the following recommendations:
Here are some ways to do this:
Make a plan
Make a simple plan with your children and stick (consistent) with it. Parents need to be consistent! As an adult also follow a plan, that would be even better. Your children will have a role model to follow. Being consistent is perhaps one of the most important aspects of childcare parenting principles.
Write the plan down, have it somewhere you can see it and remember it. Posting it in an area that is easy to access will help. When things are out of sight, they often slip out of mind.
FREE APP and setting Recommendations:
The Screen Time app is a free App for iPhone and Android devices. The App puts time limits on your devices and other controls; it’s easy to understand and a very helpful tool. https://screentimelabs.com/
Check out the video below.
Here is a list of the websites with parental control information for 5 of the major television streaming platforms:
Netflix
https://help.netflix.com/en/node/264
Hulu
https://help.hulu.com/s/article/restrict-content
Amazon Prime
https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=202063130
Disney +
https://help.disneyplus.com/csp?id=csp_article_content&sys_kb_id=36628f4bdbd66c50055ceadc13961909
HBO MAX