It seems like at the end of a busy day, the easiest thing to do is to stare into a screen. Everyone wants to relax, play video games, watch television, and surf the internet on the computer. But that can turn into a lot of lost time without interacting or participating in physical activity.
There are ways to reduce your family’s screen time. Parents can establish rules, reducing screen time by limiting when children can use the computer, TV, and smartphone. It is also important to serve as an example for your children. Make sure the adults follow the rules as well.
Here are ways to reduce the amount of time your family spends on technology.
Hold a Family Meeting
The first step to getting everyone on board with new rules for technology is to hold a family meeting. You should explain why it is important to establish rules for the family about tech use. This is a good time to note that the goal is for everyone to sit less and move more. Tech use isn’t a reward or punishment, but a form of entertainment with limits. Young children can use a cell phone for kids that doesn’t come with the internet, social media, or games.
The idea here is to explain that these rules are intended to improve your time together. As a family, everyone must commit to limiting screen time. There may be some exceptions, such as using the computer for homework or work. That does not count against your entertainment time. But everyone in the family, including adults, must be held to the same standard.
Set Screen Time Limits and Stick to Them
There must be a house rule that limits the amount of screen time spent on smartphones, TVs, and video games. Health experts recommend two hours a day, but you can set your own limits. Maybe it is one hour. Maybe you decide three hours is appropriate for your family. Whatever you decide, the entire family must be on board to keep screen time down to a finite time.
Once the rule is established, make sure you follow it. Children know when their parents are not practicing what they preach. They will follow your lead. Make sure everyone knows the penalty for breaking the rule. Decide if they have to pay into a family entertainment fund or lose tech privileges.
Create Family Time for Physical Activities
A great way to reduce your family’s screen time is to find alternative physical activities. You can plan family walks or a visit to the community pool. Start a family bowling night or an exercise challenge. Find a way to offer alternative activities to your children that will reduce their dependence on screen time.
You can track the amount of time spent on physical activities and tech use each week. Consider the hours spent watching TV, playing video games, and using the computer. Compare that to the time spent doing physical activities. Chances are you’ll find the screen time surpasses the time doing physical activities. If so, meet as a family to discuss ways you can increase your physical activities.
Not all physical activities must be done together, although family time is fun. Give your children credit for playing outside with friends. Perhaps your children are involved in sports at school or in the community. Count that, too. Don’t forget to give yourself credit for your time at the gym.
Engage as You Enjoy Screen Time Together
There are ways to spend family time together while watching television. Plan a movie night together, something everyone will enjoy. Make special treats for the family to ensure that time is special. If you see TV ads for unhealthy foods or promoting new personal devices, discuss those. Help your children understand the difference between junk food and healthy meals.
You can also add physical activities to your tech use. For example, create a competition with push-ups or jumping jacks during commercials. The winner picks the next movie. Inspire your children by doing stretches, yoga, or dumbbell lifts while watching TV. You can increase your family’s time with physical activities while enjoying television together.
Establish “Tech-Free” Zones in Your Home
You decide when and where your children access technology. That means you need rules preventing access to tech in certain areas of your home. For example, make sure there is no tech at the kitchen table for any meal. Mealtime is when families can discuss their day and stay connected.
Keep computers and televisions out of bedrooms. This is a good way to ensure everyone sticks to the tech time limits. But it also helps you monitor what your children watch and browse. You can also keep smartphones out of bedrooms, or require them to be surrendered before bedtime.
Provide Alternatives to Screen Time
There are plenty of activities families can do together that don’t require technology. Consider going to a park together. Attend a sporting event together. Encourage your children to try hobbies that occupy their afternoons and weekends.
Children can learn to appreciate hobbies at an early age. Take them to a local theater production and ask if they would consider joining a youth theater group. Sign up for an art class and take your child to see if they would enjoy learning more. Offer to pay for music lessons so they can explore learning an instrument.
There are other traditional options to consider, such as Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, school clubs, and volunteering. Teaching the value of volunteer service plants a seed of service that your child will appreciate as an adult.
There are many ways to reduce your family’s screen time. Think of this as an opportunity to build new memories together.