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Preschooler girl and school aged girl sharing some learning screen time as recommended by a Rockville day care, center.
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Creating a Balanced Screen Time Plan for Preschoolers and School-Aged Kids

Screens are almost everywhere, which can make it hard to keep an eye on your child’s computer time. As the school year starts up again, many parents are trying to figure out how to get their kids back to good screen time habits. During the summer, kids often have more time to do screen-based activities, so they spend more time on their gadgets. Even though technology can be fun and useful, it’s still important to set aside time for other things.

With the help of caregivers at a Rockville day care, parents can set clear limits, create routines that kids can stick to, and encourage healthier alternatives to screen time while still letting their kids have fun.

How Do You Balance Screen Time for Children?

An easy way to balance screen time for children is by introducing other fun activities. Think about reading books together or enjoying some family board games. There are plenty of ways to learn and grow that don’t involve technology! Just like with everything in life, a healthy relationship starts with balance—and that goes for screen time, too.

How Do You Manage Screen Time for Preschoolers?

Managing screen time for preschoolers is as simple as promoting and joining in on fun activities that don’t involve screens, like reading together, playing outside, enjoying simple board games, and getting creative with crafts. You can also turn off your devices during family time, whether you are at home or out and about! Remember to turn off all screens, including the TV, when you’re not using them, as you don’t want it running nonstop in the background.

Boy using screen time as a learning activity as recommended by a Rockville Child care center.

What is the Most Screen Time a Child Should Have Per Day?

Kids younger than 2 should only use a screen if it’s for video chatting with family or friends. Children aged 2 to 5 should only have about an hour a day of screen time. For kids ages 5 to 17, no more than two hours a day unless they have homework. Children under the age of five should be closely supervised when using screens. Children over five can use screens independently, but parents should monitor what their children are doing.

How Do I Create a Screen Time Plan?

Set Clear Screen Time Rules

First, it’s super important to establish clear and enforceable boundaries about when and how long kids can use their devices. The best way to set these rules is to create specific schedules for when kids are allowed to use their screens. For example, keeping screen time to just one hour on weekdays and being more flexible on weekends helps keep things balanced.

To make this transition go more smoothly, involve your children in the process of establishing these boundaries. Including your children in this process is as simple as telling them why you are setting limits. Explain to them how excessive screen time can damage their sleep, physical health, and social skills. Children are more inclined to obey regulations when they understand why they are in place.

Father teaching daughter to use her tablet for some learning screen time.

Create a Daily Routine That Includes Screen Time

Now is a great time to make a daily plan that includes both screen time and other tasks. Kids can better understand what is expected of them when you set clear rules, like limits, and follow a structured routine. Set aside time for homework, playing outside, and creative activities, and leave small gaps for using a computer.

Setting times for educational games or TV shows can help younger kids make the most of their screen time. For older kids and teens, plan screen time in ways that help them learn or be creative, like editing videos or taking digital pictures.

Making sure that kids have lots of fun things to do besides screens will help them get used to a more healthy schedule. To get them to spend less time in front of a screen, you can encourage them to do chores around the house, read, or even start a new hobby.

Establish Tech-Free Zones

Setting up physical boundaries in your home can be a great way to reduce screen time. Set aside certain areas, like the dining room or bedrooms, as screen-free zones. That way, kids can associate certain areas with things like family time, rest, or sleep instead of electronics.

In general, it’s best to keep screens out of bedrooms. However, it’s even more crucial to enforce this on school nights. Teens and adults can both sleep better if computers are kept out of their bedrooms. This will help them feel refreshed and ready for the day.

Include Educational and Productive Screen Time

Instead of just trying to limit your child’s screen time, try to choose the kinds of things they watch. For instance, you could have your child use educational apps like Khan Academy. For productive screen time, you can also let kids try out new tech-related tasks like coding. Kids are more likely to use their gadgets in good ways if they know that screen time can help them learn and grow.

Happy boy running with a kite in hands over his head playing outside as encouraged by the staff at a Rockville Daycare Center.

Support Other Interests

One of the best ways to automatically cut down on screen time is to encourage kids to try hobbies that don’t involve technology. Hobbies, whether they involve drawing, playing an instrument, or participating in sports, allow you to be creative and flourish.

By providing your kids with the resources they require to succeed in their hobbies, you can support their interests. For instance, enrolling them in after-school programs at a Rockville daycare or classes on the weekends can help them develop a love for things that don’t involve screens. Kids are less likely to turn to screens for fun when they are really into things they can do in real life.

Final Thoughts

As technology continues to advance, it’s clear that screen time is just a part of life now. Instead of just trying to eliminate all screen time, why not work together as a family to encourage healthy digital habits? It’s so easy to focus on the negative aspects of technology, but it’s important to celebrate the good things technology can bring into our lives! Kids pick up a lot from what they observe, so if you set a good example with technology, it’ll help them grasp what’s expected of them as well.

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