We’ve all heard the statistics.
The average daily screen time for children and teens is alarmingly high. Most parents would choose to reduce their kids time in front of a screen. But how do you actually get your kids to unplug and play?
I’ve spent countless hours reading, researching, and putting different ideas into practice.
Our home is not screen free. I’m far from perfect when it comes to best technology practices. But I’m fighting to win in the battle that technology is waging for my kids’ time and attention. And I’ve learned quite a bit over the years.
Here are my top ten recommendations to reduce screen time for kids. They’re not easy. But I’m convinced they’re worth it.
10 Ways to Get Your Kids to Unplug and Play
#1: Set a good example.
This might be the most important practice. It also might be the hardest.
It’s easy to justify excessive screen time as an adult. We use our phones for everything–communication, work, shopping, recipes, GPS…even getting the weather or answering a simple question.
But what we may view as necessary our kids just see as hypocrisy.
Set screen time limits for yourself. Designate times to put your device away or areas in the house that are screen free (the dinner table or the bedroom are great options).
Let your kids see you managing your own screen time. It will speak volumes.
(Check out this post for 10 tips to have a tech free day.)
#2: Be okay with being counter-cultural.
You’ve probably heard it before…
Everyone ELSE has a phone.
My friends are all on social media.
I’m the only one not on the group chat.
Don’t give in to this pressure! First, what might seem true to them is not reality. Help them see not all their friends are really doing these things.
A bunch of them probably are. Bur there’s also some families that are limiting screens and trying to get their kids to unplug and play just like you…their voices just aren’t as loud.
And don’t be afraid to hold the bar high. I tell my kids often…even if everyone else is doing it–we’re not everyone else.
That excuse will never fly in our house because we hold ourselves to our own standard. And it’s not one written by the current trends or culture.
#3: View screens as a privilege not a right.
Screen time is a privilege in our home. It’s sometimes given freely, but often has to be earned. And it can just as easily be taken away.
This world will try to convince you that we have a right to do anything we want. But that’s not what the Bible says. Anything that draws us away from God has to be carefully managed. And that includes technology.
#4: Raise kids who love to read.
A really good book beats a screen any day. Unfortunately few kids agree!
They need your encouragement and direction to choose reading over technology.
Raising kids who love to read is a process. But it’s one of the most worthwhile things you will ever do.
(Wondering how to raise a reader? Check out this post for five keys to help your kids love to read.)
#5: Get outside.
One of the best ways to get your kids to unplug and play is to send them outside. It’s okay if they don’t want to. It’s okay if the weather’s not perfect.
The benefits of outside play are too numerous to count. Some of the best childhood memories are made outdoors.
#6: Allow your kids to be bored.
School’s been out for about three seconds and what do you hear coming out of your child’s mouth?
“I’m bored.”
While those words can be irritating to parents who never run out of things to do, boredom can actually be a good thing for kids. If channeled in the right way.
Boredom is a strong catalyst for imagination and creative play. Bored kids make up some of the best games. They imagine the most intriguing stories. They build incredible creations.
They often surprise even themselves with how much fun they can create from nothing.
#7: Plan alternate activities.
Speaking of boredom…I don’t provide an activity every time my kids say they’re bored. In fact, one of my favorite responses to the timeless “I’m bored” mantra is–“I have plenty of chores to keep you busy if you need something to do.” They usually get pretty creative after they hear that!
But I also recognize children sometimes need help getting the creative juices flowing. So, during slower seasons, I strategically sprinkle our schedule with fun, engaging activities.
Swimming, park visits, trips to the library, free kids’ programs, sports camps, and play dates are all popular options for us in the summer.
My kids still have plenty of downtime. And numerous opportunities to independently “fix” their boredom issues. But I make sure to give them a helping hand on a consistent basis too.
(Need a list of simple and inexpensive family activities? Click here.)
#8: Keep screens out of bedrooms.
Nothing will increase screen addiction more than having constant access to one. Whether it’s a TV, a computer, iPad, or phone, a screen in your child’s bedroom will make getting them to unplug and play almost impossible.
Consider keeping TV’s and computers in centralized locations. Have a place where phones and other small electronic devices are stored when not in use. And hold your kids accountable to putting them there each night before bed.
#9: Set specific time limits.
Adults know first-hand how time flies with a screen in hand. If it’s that hard for us to manage, how much harder is it for our kids?
Set time limits for screens. Every family is different, so those parameters will likely look different in each house. But make them clear and then enforce them.
#10: Delay giving your child his/her first phone.
Countless research points towards the negative side effects of young children having their own phones. And even more alarming are the statistics on the effects social media access has on children and teens.
Refuse to let your child be another statistic. Hold off on giving your child a phone as long as possible. (In our family, that’s age 16–when they start driving.)
And when the time comes, be intentional about training them how to use it. Spend time teaching them how to safely navigate phone use and how to guard against screen addiction.
Those may very well be some of the most valuable and important lessons you ever give.
Why Reducing Screen Time is So Important
Screen addiction is an easy habit. In fact, the tech companies spend millions trying to make it so. Getting your kids to unplug and play is hard. Really, really hard.
It’s challenging enough that even the most dedicated parent may want to throw in the towel and give up. But let me encourage you to stay in the fight.
Increased screen time is associated with everything from severe depression and anxiety to low academic performance and poor behavior. And that’s only scratching surface!
Our kids need us to advocate for them. To set boundaries and enforce them. To push back when they protest. And to refuse to give in to the cultural norms that are stealing their childhood.
So, hang in their moms and dads. This is a worthy fight. And your children’s future just might depend on you winning it.
Leave a Reply