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Screens form a big part of children’s lives in the modern world, and can be hard to get away from; even in schools children often use tablets or other electronic devices as part of their learning. Of course there are some benefits to this – it can make learning more accessible for children who are visual learners – but there are also downsides and you might want to limit how much screen time your child has. If so, read on for some tips on how to do this from a senior school in Reigate.

Decide on an acceptable limit

If you’re keen to reduce your child’s screen time, decide on a specific amount of time you’re happy for them to spend looking at a screen each day; for example, you might decide they can have one hour after school and then another hour after dinner, and that’s it. Once you’ve decided, make sure you discuss this with your child so they understand the rules clearly and exactly how much time they can have on their tablet or watching TV. Setting clear rules like this helps everyone know where they stand and will help prevent any arguments over screen time.

Practise what you preach

Try to demonstrate healthy screen use yourself – your child might find it a bit hypocritical if you’re limiting their use of electronic devices while spending a lot of time on your own. Try to spend time with your child away from the screens doing something more creative or getting outside in the fresh air, and make sure they see you doing these things on your own as well, rather than scrolling on your phone or watching TV all the time.

Create screen-free areas

Another way to moderate screen use is creating spaces within your home where screens aren’t allowed. You might create a rule about no screens at the dinner table so you can prioritise having discussions as a family; or perhaps you won’t let your child take their phone into their bedroom so you can moderate what they’re getting up to. It’s important to make sure everyone in the family is clear on the rules. Creating designated screen-free zones will also give your child a break from the constant pull of technology, one which they may not even realise they need but which will do them the world of good.

Managing your child’s screen time will help ensure that technology doesn’t intrude on your family life too much while also preserving good mental health.