Kids and screen time is the ultimate dilemma of today’s world. For homeschoolers, it is even more challenging because kids, especially teenagers, have a lot of classes and learning that is done online. There are different thoughts about this issue. Some unschooling parents think that we shouldn’t limit kids’ screen time, and that at a certain age, they will be able to control themselves. I don’t really agree with this idea. There are some kids who are mature enough to eventually control their consumption of screen time, but most kids are not. Unfortunately, social media, games, and apps are made in a way to be addictive and to encourage people to consume them more and more. Most adults these days are addicted to their phones, so how can we expect something different from our children?
Personally, I believe that it’s very important to help our kids limit their use of electronic devices, especially everything related to social media and gaming. The first rule we established in our household is that no electronics are allowed in bedrooms, which helps me see what my kids are doing on their devices. We also limit their gaming time and screen time on their computers. There are a lot of tools that help parents do that, and you can check and control the timing from your phone. The second important rule we have is that my kids are not allowed to have a personal phone until the age of 14. This rule is very important because it delays access to social media until the kid is a little more mature.
Managing kids’ screen time is a very challenging task and needs a lot of patience. I still struggle with it even while having implemented rules. It is also very important to keep talking to the kids about the side effects of devices so that they understand why you are doing all this. When the kids understand and see the value of limiting the negative use of electronics, everything becomes much easier. I found also that participating in sports activities helps counteract the effect of electronic devices, especially if they have regular training and events. Having a dedicated playtime outside the house is also a very important way to reduce and limit screen time.
