Top tips for managing your child’s screen time

Screen time has long been a topic of discussion. While excessive use as a whole isn’t good for children, new research shows that it’s less about “screen time” and more about what they spend their time on. When managed correctly, having access to technology can help children make progress at school. Those with computers within the home perform better than their counterparts for a number of reasons: they are able to work on their problem solving, communication and creative thinking skills and develop digital literacy. For help managing your child’s screen time, here are some top tips we’ve put together with the help of an independent school in London.

Create passcodes

One way that you can restrict access to things you don’t want your child to see online is by setting passcodes on their devices. This may get annoying after a while as you will need to manually unlock them when they switch off, but it is an effective means of keeping them off their devices when they shouldn’t be in use, or restricting them seeing content not meant for them.

Device limits

Newer devices provide parental controls and allow you to set screen time limits. Once their screen time for the day has been reached, the devices will automatically turn off. This can be done on an app by app basis which allows you to make sure that your child’s using their screen time productively.

Come to an agreement

Screens can be highly addictive so cutting down their usage may be difficult. To get children on board we recommend discussing the issue with them and agreeing on an appropriate length of time together. This way they know what to expect and won’t create a fuss when their screen time is over.

Out of sight is out of mind

Keeping areas device-free can help you to manage screen time better. Places like the dinner table and their study room are examples of places where their devices should either be turned off or out of the way. Instead opt for communal places of the house, like the living room, where they can use them supervised.