Screen Time For Kids

Screen Time For Kids Guidelines 

All the studies assure that more than 50% of a baby’s brain development takes place at babyhood, especially in the first 2 years of his life. To guarantee the best development of the brain, you need, as a mother or a father, to give your baby the chance to explore the environment around them as well as to use his five senses and experience different sights, sounds, tastes, and textures. Don’t estimate the importance of interacting with various stuff and playing with other kids because these interactions teach children how to deal with the world around them.

As said above, interacting with the environment is the base of your child’s personality and habits; therefore, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends following a certain plan while dealing with babies and toddlers by focusing on activities and limiting the amount of time they spend in front of a screen.

Although we all admit that this is a great idea, we can’t deny that it is hard to keep our kids away from all the TVs, tablets, computers, smartphones, etc.. which are found in the house. 

As screens are everywhere, there is no way to prevent your kid from watching, but you can make sure that this screen time for kids as productive as possible.

How Much Screen Time for Kids Is Allowed?

Screen time differs according to the age of the kids, for example:

• Babies younger than 18 months

Such babies shouldn’t watch screens at all. However, they can have some video chatting with grandparents, other family members or friends. 

• Toddlers 18 months to 24 months old

At this age, kids can start to enjoy some screen time with a parent, but it is still not considered a fixed daily activity.

• By ages 2 and 3

Kids of 2 and 3 years old can watch tv for a maximum of one hour a day. 

Watching tv or spending time on iPad and tabs doesn’t necessarily need to be watching cartoons. It can be a good chance to interact with your child and teach lessons about the world. Actually, you will be shocked by the amazing things which can be done to make screen time for kids more productive. 

Screen Time Tips

Screen time for kids is something inescapable; therefore, you just need to make this time as much use as possible. Check these tips:

1- Interact

Spend the screen time with your kid.
Watch together age-appropriate TV shows or videos and discuss them together.
Play an educational game with your kid.

2- Research

Set beside your child when choosing the games and applications, and research them to avoid giving him useless ones. Some apps and games seem to be educational, but they are actually not. 

3- Schedule non-screen time. 

Make some plans and activities during the non-screen time, to make your child enjoy his day.
This time is so important to build his imagination and creativity like going camping, family meals, bedtimes, etc. are a good chance to interact with your child and keep him away from screens.