How to control your child's TV and phone viewing without forbidding them

1. Be a role model for your children

Limiting the time your child spends on the computer, phone, iPad, etc. when they are around is a must. This limit should come from both sides because children will also feel annoyed when their parents forbid them from using it but constantly check their phones.

Put down your phone and look at your child when you speak. This will help your child realize that talking and playing with them is more important to you than any work or smart device.

2. If you must work on the computer, let your child know when you will finish.

Children will not understand that you are in a hurry and have to use the computer even though you do not want to. Therefore, before starting, you should clearly tell your child why and when you will stop this.

3. Have clear limits for the whole family

Set rules that all family members, including parents, must follow, such as not using the phone while eating, not replying to text messages during dinner, not using electronic devices before going to bed, etc.

Setting these rules for a 15-year-old child will be quite difficult but can be effectively applied to young children and of course, controlling the time children spend watching TV and using phones when they are young will affect them when they grow up and parents will not worry about their children being addicted to watching electronic devices.

4. Apply the 1 – 1 rule

Parents should find activities or sports that are as enjoyable as watching or playing on entertainment screens. Accordingly, parents can set up a 1-1 combination rule. For example, if children play video games for an hour, they also play outside for an hour.

5. Spend time with your children

No matter how busy you are, you should set aside one weekend and one midweek evening to organize games for family members. Family games will bring your children interesting experiences, help them bond with the family and gradually forget about the TV.

6. Let your children participate in outdoor activities

Just 30 minutes - 1 hour of playing and running around every afternoon, children will not only improve their motor skills and strengthen their physical strength, but after playing to their heart's content, when they are tired, they will no longer remember the TV or phone. After playing, children will eat well, sleep better and fall asleep easily afterwards.

7. Assign work to your children

Instead of letting your children have free time to watch TV, you should assign them housework. This method not only limits the habit of using electronic devices but also helps children know how to do housework and be responsible for their part. Depending on the age of the child, the mother should assign reasonable tasks.