Parenting Hack: How to Keep Kids in Check on Your Phone
With technology developing and being more available every day, it's important to set rules for children to prevent them from excessively using their phones. While their digital devices might have several benefits, parents should stay alert on excessive use. The solution is simple; communicate and allow them to understand the dangers of using their phones excessively. The next step is to help them decrease their phone use and screen time. In this blog, we're going to cover the importance of limited screen time and give you some tips on reducing your child's phone use.
Result of Excessive Phone Use
Children who use their phones excessively can damage their development in many ways. First, by creating social media accounts on their phones, they send a lot of personal information into the world. Every single piece of data that we put online gets saved forever and leaves a digital footprint. This online footprint can persist until they turn older, want to apply for college or even when they want to get a job. Therefore, an Instagram account with insensitive content or a less thought-through tweet can ruin a lot of chances.
People can be harsh, as we've all probably encountered at least once in our lives. People online can be even worse. They can comment anonymously without leaving a trail and anyone knowing who they are. This makes it extra important to protect your child from cyberbullies, data thieves, and other malicious people. Enlighten your child on "stranger danger" and explain to them about the possible threats of online communication. Make sure only their friends follow them, and no strangers have access to their pictures or other data.
Pictures are just a fragment of our lives. Photos on social media are not only a fragment, but mostly an edited fragment. Celebrities edit out their perfectly normal skin and bodies to make it appear like they are some super skinny and unflawed person. This can cause teenagers to think they are not enough or become self-conscious about their looks. This can eventually cause decreased self-esteem, anxiety, and even depression if this feeling remains consistent.
Adding to the mental issues that social media brings along, children who spend a lot of time on their phones develop a sedentary lifestyle. This can result in less excitement for outdoor time and sports. In the long run, this type of lifestyle can result in physical illnesses and in the worst case, even obesity. Other health issues can include reduced attention span, which can present itself in a worse academic performance later on in their lives.
Tips to Decrease Children's Screen Time
Keeping children in check when it comes to their use of smartphones is an important aspect of responsible parenting in the digital age. One solution is to screen lock your phone when your child is watching a video on it, but often times children have their own devices that you can't just simply lock once they're watching something on it. Let's look at some strategies and tips for parents to help manage their children's phone usage effectively:
Set Clear Boundaries
Establish rules and guidelines for phone usage, including when and where it's acceptable to use phones. For example, you can set specific times when phone use is allowed or disallowed, such as during family meals or after a certain time in the evening.
Communicate Openly
Have a conversation with your children about the reasons behind your rules and restrictions. Encourage them to ask questions and express their concerns. This can help them understand the importance of responsible phone use.
Model Good Behavior
Children often learn by example, being a good role model for responsible phone usage can be very helpful. If you want your kids to use their phones less, demonstrate that behavior by reducing your own screen time.
Use Parental Control
There are various parental controls and features available that allow you to monitor and manage your child's phone usage. These tools can help you set screen time limits, block inappropriate content, and track their device activity. Parental control software can be used as third-party apps, in-app or built-in operating systems. By putting parental controls on Android, Windows, or iOS devices you can ensure your child's online safety.
Teach Responsible Online Behavior
Educate your children about online safety, cyberbullying, privacy, and the potential risks of the internet. Make sure they understand the importance of not sharing personal information online and being respectful to others in the digital world.
Encourage Offline Activities
Promote a balance between online and offline activities. Encourage your children to engage in physical activities, hobbies, and face-to-face social interactions to reduce their dependence on screens.
Reward Positive Behavior
Offer incentives or rewards for responsible phone usage, such as adhering to time limits or following the rules. This can motivate your children to use their phones responsibly.
Stay Engaged and Involved
Maintain an ongoing dialogue with your children about their online experiences and challenges they may encounter. Encourage them to come to you with any concerns or issues they encounter while using their phones.
Remember that the goal is not to completely restrict phone usage but to help children develop responsible habits and make safe and informed choices in their digital lives. Parenting in the digital age requires a balance between guidance, trust, and communication.
Conclusion
To sum it all up, digital devices are full of learning opportunities, but excessive use can be harmful for children. Some of these include mental and physical health issues, and privacy and online safety dangers. It is the parents’ role is to protect their children from the unnecessary damages that online platforms and excessive phone use cause. Parents and caregivers can help by providing a safe space for their children to talk about things they struggle with whether it be online or offline. Also, offering non-digital family activities can keep the focus away from their phones. Remember that completely removing a digital device does not solve the solution. This can take a turn and make your child sneakier. However, communicating and allowing them a certain screen time can help develop a stronger parent-child bond and make them understand why you're advising them not to overuse their phones. Ensure your children's online safety by decreasing their screen time with our tips.
Check the comment section for additional information, or share what you know or ask a question about this article, by clicking the 'View or Write Comment' button below.
Note: Some of the information in samples on this website may have been impersonated or spoofed.