Do you agree that technological developments also have an impact on parenting? Many parents today provide "entertainment" in the form of viewing via gadgets. According to parents, this can entertain children easily. Plus, many funny programs attract children's attention, so they become calmer.
Unfortunately, some parents forget or are negligent in supervising the use of gadgets in their children. As a result, children become addicted and find it difficult to stop playing with gadgets. As a result of further addiction, children become more irritable and have tantrums when their parents tell them to stop. Of course, if left unchecked, this habit will be physically and emotionally dangerous later.
In order not to overuse it, parents need to set up screen time for their children.
What is screen time?
Screen time is used to schedule playing time or watch screens (gadgets). Parents provide certain times for children to be allowed to play and watch via gadgets. We hope to train children to be committed and wise in using gadgets.
WHO, or the World Health Organization (World Health Organization), provides children's screen time guidelines. According to WHO, screen time limits applied early on can be a factor in children growing into healthier adults.
Age-appropriate screen time guidelines for children
WHO also provides guidelines for implementing screen time in children under five.
1. Babies under one year old
Babies are not advised to do screen time. It is better if babies under the age of 1 year are not introduced to gadget screens beforehand except for video calls with families who are far away.
2. Children aged 1-2 years
Children at the age of 1 year are more advised to do only 1 hour of screen time or less. Children at this age are more advised to listen to more fairy tales and are invited to recognize letters only as familiar (not forced).
3. Children aged 3-4 years
They are not recommended for more than 1 hour. Just like two years old, 3-4 years old are the right age for children to recognize letters and spend at least 180 minutes of physical activity daily. Parents can provide interesting educational shows.
Here are tips to keep children's screen time quality
- Always accompany your child during screen time
- Keep interacting but don't break the concentration too much
- Find out what kids are watching or use video platforms intended for toddlers and children
- Prepare other activities that children like as an alternative to screen time
- Give understanding to the child that promises must be kept when the child asks for more time
- Negotiate or cooperate with older children to help supervise
Of course, excessive screen time can have negative impacts such as behavioral disturbances, decreased academic grades, and obesity because children rarely move if they play with too many gadgets, have problems sleeping hours and rest periods, and, at worst, trigger children to behave violently. For that, we as parents have to be careful!