Using Screen Time to Replace Parenting Time

A girl using her phone.

Parents tend to use screen time as a parenting tool, which increases children’s media exposure, and that is because when children are 2 is when their behaviour can be difficult to control so parents used devices to control them, but parents need to think about long-term developmental needs instead, as skills such as self-regulation or healthy habits such as no screen time while eating should be cultivated (Elias & Sulkin, 2019).

Limit screen time

It is important to limit screen time for children as they will get more addicted when they become adolescents, and screen time is related to a higher obesity rate, though unfortunately, because adults themselves are addicted to the screen, they become unwilling to impose restrictions on children (Schoeppe, et al., 2016).

Dangers of screen time

Sedentary behaviour is encouraged with excessive screen time, and other issues arise, such as aggressive behaviour, reduced attention span, poor language and cognitive development (Carson & Janssen, 2012), and it also decreases parent-child interactions and causes delays in cognitive and socio-emotional domains (Wallace & Livingstone, 2019).

References

Carson, V., & Janssen, I. (2012, July 23). Associations between factors within the home setting and screen time among children aged 0-5 years: a cross-sectional study. BMC public health, 12(1), 539-539.

Elias, N., & Sulkin, I. (2019, December). Screen-Assisted Parenting: The Relationship Between Toddlers’ Screen Time and Parents’ Use of Media as a Parenting Tool. Journal of Family Issues, 40(18), 2801-2822. doi:10.1177/0192513X19864983

Schoeppe, S., Rebar, A. L., Short, C. E., Alley, S., Van Lippevelde, W., & Vandelanotte, C. (2016, March 1). How is adults' screen time behaviour influencing their views on screen time restrictions for children? A cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 16(1), 1-5. doi:10.1186/s12889-016-2789-3

Wallace, J. C., & Livingstone, A. (2019, May). G352(P) Screen time and children: assessing staff knowledge and parental practices regarding screen time. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 104, A144. doi:10.1136/archdischild-2019-rcpch.340

Do follow me on my various social media platforms and check out my Etsy shop!

Etsy | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube | Linktree | Itch.io

Inappropriate Content for Children

Inappropriate content.

Should you allow children to be exposed to inappropriate content such as curse words or sexual material? The answer might be obvious, but let's unpack this a little bit. Here is my opinion as both an educator and an adult.

What I will say as an educator

As an educator, I will say no. I will immediately stop any inappropriate behaviour, whether intentional or not. But I try to do it calmly. The last thing I want is to blow up and allow children to be even more attracted to the behaviour. I won't even offer my opinion on controversial topics. I do not want to engage in debates with parents regarding controversial topics. I just try to make my classrooms as sanitised as possible.

These are not my kids. I do not have the right to control their minds.

What I will say as an adult

But as an adult, I will say that it is more important to focus on education. Inappropriate content is everywhere. How will you stop your children from watching them? If you educate your loved ones in a restricted manner, they might end up rebellious. In their whole life, they only know that they cannot do certain things. But they do not know why.

So what should be done?

So instead, teach them moral values. Go so far as to teach them about purity in marriage. Hollywood holds nothing back in bringing adultery and rape to the small and big screens, so always be ready to nurture your children.

Moreover, what if you do the very act you condemn? If a heavy object falls on your feet, your first 4-letter word will not be love!

But in the end, I think it all boils down to your own moral standing. Your own beliefs will somehow find their way to your children, whether you like it or not. If you live a promiscuous lifestyle, don't expect your children to be holy and pure if you do not nurture them correctly. Likewise, even if you are the holiest and purest person, don't be surprised if your kid starts saying words you have never taught them before.

Do follow me on my various social media platforms and check out my Etsy shop!

Etsy | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube | Linktree | Itch.io

Dangers of Giving Mobile Devices to Children

Child with a phone.

Aww. Look at the little girl playing on the smartphone. Technology enables us to teach our children when we, as educators or parents, are too busy. But remember, technology should never become a substitute for human interaction.

I have seen so many children playing on tablets or mobile phones at such a young age. When I was 6, I was learning to use a Windows PC. I remember feeling so scared when I unplugged the headphone audio jack by mistake. Nowadays, children are able to open and close apps on their own.

I do understand why people would want to leave kids on the electronic devices. Sometimes you are too busy. Sometimes they just want a little bit of entertainment. I am not saying it is wrong to give tablets to children, but do it moderately.

Here are 4 reasons why parents SHOULD NOT give tablets/phones to children:

1. Behaviour

Children screaming.

Being a preschool teacher, I have seen how some children are always restless. If their behaviours are not properly corrected and nurtured, they will not learn well in school. Whether it is inappropriate content or unpleasant words, children learn things very quickly.

2. Delayed gratification

Child waiting.

The thing about games is that they offer instant gratification. What it means is that if you complete a task, you get the reward immediately. When you kill this monster, you level up. When you complete 10 hours in the game, you get an achievement. Does this happen in real life? When you say a kind word to someone, will they say it back? When you ask for a present, will you always get it?

Life is cruel, let's face it. Children need to learn that things don't always go the way they want them to. While it sounds obvious, people just don't get it. Children need to be patient.

3. Spoiling

Child with gifts.

A good way for a kid to grow up with bad character is to always shower them with gifts. While the act of giving is not wrong, too much is a bad thing. If your child has done something good, praise him. If it is something great, bring him out. Giving him an electronic device offers room for even greater demands. I know, as I was once a little boy. If your child constantly demands it, it might be good to understand and change their behaviour.

4. No time with you

Child and parents with phones.

Imagine a parent and a child at a restaurant. Both of them are using their phones. You might end up leaving the restaurant only remembering the person you were chatting with, and not the one you were literally just sitting across from. How ironic that we spend more time with a person through a phone than with one sitting next to us.

Do follow me on my various social media platforms and check out my Etsy shop!

Etsy | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube | Linktree | Itch.io