Are you concerned for your child’s safety because of their increasing interest in screens and digital media? It is totally understandable to feel anxious when your child starts using mobile devices and other electronic gadgets. As children become extremely vulnerable to digital dangers once they start using a smartphone. The threats caused by the excessive use of screens and the Internet are very real. Therefore, parents need to take effective measures to keep their kids away from harmful activities on the web.
Tips for Parents
Parents are the biggest influence on their kids, they are the one responsible for child's health, studies, good upbringing, and safety. Parents are the major source of teaching their kids appropriate and inappropriate digital behavior. Here are a few pieces of advice for parents which they can follow in order to keep their kids protected from the negative effects of screens.
1. Switch to Digital Monitoring
Before buying cell phones to children parents should do the following:
Talk to their kids/teens about the risks and danger of the digital life
Help them to set up privacy settings for their social media accounts
Make a precautionary checklist for them to which they can refer to, every time they use cell phones
Ensure that you kids are safe digitally and do not get addicted to screens with the help of screen limit apps
2. Put Limitations on Screen Time
Excess screen time brings so many issues including obesity, affected social skills, poor academic results, and much more. By using a screen limit app such as FamilyTime, parents can monitor their child’s screen time. Ideally, screen time should not be more than 3-4 hours per day. Fight the boredom by involving them in activities that are good for their health and development. Engage your kid in other activities, play with them. Make them feel that they are more important than the screens, and do things the old-fashioned way.
FamilyTime app allows parents to schedule auto screen lock on your teen’s device. This way parents can restrict their kids from the disproportionate use of screens. Want to give this app a try for free? You can! To get the app now, either visit the app store on your phone or simply click he buttons below:
3. Be an Ideal Role Model
You need to do as you preach, if you want your child to stay away from screens for a certain period of time, you will have to portray the detachment of electronic gadgets in your own behavior as well. Often parents use their cellphones in front of their kids during mealtimes or even while driving. This behavior should be highly discouraged. Children learn whatever their parents do and repeat the same actions. It is better to avoid using mobile screens while you are having a quality time with your family.