According to experts at KidsHealth, “Toddlers 18 months to 24 months old can start to enjoy some screen time with a parent or caregiver. By ages 2 and 3, kids should watch no more than 1 hour a day.” During COVID-19, however; there has been an increase in screen time among children, especially toddlers. Though screen time is often labeled as “bad”, it can be managed. Here are 5 quick tips to help you manage screen time!
- Try to use a screen at the same time every day. Predictability is important and can help reduce tantrums if they know when it is to come to an end.
- Make your child aware of their limits. Let them know the amount of screen time they will have. Depending on the child’s age, you can say if it’ll be 30 mins, 1 episode, etc.
- Have an activity for when screen time ends. Transitions are important.
- Prepare your child for when screen time may end. Let them know the show will be ending soon.
- Give them some control by turning on and off the television. Toddlers love to be in control. They will think they’re determining their limits
We told you they’ll be quick. Next post, we’ll dive into good and bad screen time. Yup, there is a difference!
