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Screen time is one of the biggest challenges kids face. It's difficult to decide how much screen time is appropriate and when it should be limited.
We can all agree that limiting screen time can provide children with many benefit — including improved social skills, physical activity levels and academic performance.
So now the question becomes: How do we make it happen? In this article, we will discuss some strategies for limiting your child's screen time at home without causing major disruptions.
Simple Ways to Limit Your Screen Time
Here are five ways:
1) Curate your social media feed
The first step in curating your social media feed is to make sure you're only following the people you enjoy. If someone's tweets or posts don't interest you, unfollow them.
Next, follow people who're interesting and engaging. You should be able to read their posts and feel like they're speaking directly to you - like they know something about you that no one else does.
That will keep you engaged and help prevent boredom from setting in while scrolling through endless feeds filled with mediocre content that isn't tailored specifically towards who you are (or could become).
Finally: don't overdo it. It can be easy for teens especially, as there's such an emphasis on being social these days, but remember: less is more when it comes down.
2) Schedule a break day from your devices
There's no better way to disconnect from your devices than by setting aside a day when you will disconnect from them. It can be as simple as turning off your devices or leaving them at home.
Go on a hike; take a walk in the park, and enjoy nature for an afternoon, or even better: spend time connecting with friends and family who live nearby. It doesn't matter if it's just sending an email or calling someone on the phone (or doing both).
The point is that taking this time will help you appreciate what's real about life and how much more fulfilling it is than staring at screens all day long.
3) Turn off notifications
If a notification pops up on your phone, it's tempting to check out what it is right away. However, even if you only spend a few seconds reading the message or viewing the picture, those few seconds add up and can be just enough time for an addiction to start forming.
If you have any control over the settings on your devices, turn off all notifications (except those from people who're important in real life). If that seems too drastic, try setting an alarm or reminder every hour or so that you check back in with reality instead of staying plugged in all day long.
4) Connect with people
Skateboarding and basketball are great ways to get exercise, but you should also try to connect with people in real life. You can do that by:
- Talking to friends and family on the phone, or even better, hanging out with them in person
- Going out with friends and family at least once a week. That could be something as simple as going for groceries or taking a walk around the neighborhood together. Just make sure that you're doing things that don't involve screens.
- Making plans with classmates so that you're able to hang out after school hours (that might mean setting aside time for homework).
5) Invest your time in real-life activities
If you're trying to cut down on screen time, there are plenty of ways to do it. One way is by playing with your pets. Pets can be very entertaining and engaging, especially if they're new to you.
You can also invest your time in real-life activities like playing sports or joining a school club or community group. If you enjoy music, try learning an instrument - it will help keep your mind off screens and give you something else to do when bored.
If none of that sounds appealing, going for walks with friends or biking around town is another great way for teenagers (and adults) alike who want nothing more than some fresh air and sunshine.
We hope this article has helped you understand how teenagers can limit their screen time.
As we've seen, there are many benefits to limiting the amount of time spent on screens each day. By avoiding some of these common pitfalls and following the aforementioned tips, you will be well on your way towards living a healthy lifestyle.
