To divert the eyes: TOP-3 life hacks that will help to tear the child away from the TV

Often a TV or tablet is not only a favorite pastime for a child, but also a front for his parents. Just like that, before you have time to look back, the boundaries of what is permissible were erased, and the child urges him to turn on the blue screen. Sometimes, get to the real hysterical, and even fights. How to prevent this?

Why is it important to control time at the blue screen

TV is an accelerated picture and sound change. You do not have time to delve into one thing, already another. Behind the cartoon is advertising, behind it is the program, and so on. The children's brain is simply not capable of analyzing and digesting everything - it works beyond its strength. In such a frenzied stream, an overdose of information occurs. This is clearly seen in excitable children. For 3 minutes watching TV, they give out a tantrum.

Screen time 

There are norms for spending time in front of the TV or tablet / istockphoto.com

There are norms for spending time in front of the TV or tablet. Up to a year, it is better to exclude gadgets altogether.

• At two - no more than 20 minutes a day;
• at 3-4 years old - 30 minutes;
•  from 5 to 7 - one hour a day;
• after 7 years - 2-3 hours, but here it is important to control what the child is looking at.

How to balance?

There are 3 ways to limit screen time.

Make a schedule. It's no secret that children need a consistent sequence of actions and established rules. For example, allow watching TV only before bedtime or after breakfast. Create routine day, make it predictable.

Allow drinking days. You can set no restrictions on weekends, or you can only allow TV on Saturday mornings until 10:00, for example.

Track screen time. There are many apps that can help you keep track of your screen time on tablets and phones. You can also involve your children in limiting decisions. For example, if your child thinks they should spend 20 minutes in front of the screen on Tuesday and is willing to give up Instagram on Wednesdays, then maybe this is a good option for your family.

When it's time to turn off 

How long can a child watch his favorite cartoons? / istockphoto.com

If no one responds to your comments that it's time to stop watching TV, try the method that psychologists advise. The point is to bring the child back from screen reality to the real one. Sit down next to him and start asking what is happening on the screen. Ask the question: "What are you looking at?" or "Who is this character, I've never seen him before?" If there is a reaction and the child responded, gradually bring him back to reality. At the end of the dialogue, say, for example: “We bathe in 5 minutes. It's time to turn off the tablet. " You will be surprised that the child turns off the TV himself. And he will do it completely calmly.

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