Helpful tips to help children reduce screen time.
Research shows that excessive screen time can affect children's brain development, sleep, and behavior. If you're worried about your child spending too much time in front of screens, don't miss the helpful tips in this article.
Today, many parents tend to use electronic devices as a "multipurpose" solution in childcare, from keeping children quiet while they need to get work done, to using educational videos as a learning aid. Screens are gradually becoming an unwilling "babysitter" in many modern families.
However, excessive screen time, even with good intentions, poses many risks. Children's overuse of screens can negatively impact their overall development, including communication skills, motor skills, vision, sleep habits, and even emotional regulation.
Instead of interacting with the real world, children are easily drawn into a passive virtual environment, thus developing a dependence on devices for entertainment, rather than learning how to play independently or interact socially.
To support parents in helping their children balance screen time, here are some suggestions for fun and educational alternative activities.
These activities not only provide children with healthy entertainment but also contribute to the development of important skills such as creative thinking, fine motor skills, communication skills, and independence.
During the meal
Instead of giving children an electronic device to keep them quiet, parents can try a simpler but more effective method: preparing a bag of toys.
According to Rowena Mark Ramos (37), Head of Curriculum at the Babylon Family Education Centre in Singapore, this small bag can hold items such as magnets, coloring books, or mini toys.
These activities not only entertain children but also stimulate their creativity, from creating shapes with magnets and coloring with crayons to immersing themselves in an imaginary world with tiny dinosaurs.
Amelia Jaishree, a lecturer at the National Institute for Early Childhood Development in Singapore, also suggested a simple yet fun game: "What do you want more?", with playful questions like "Would you like a giant strawberry or a tiny watermelon?". This not only creates a fun atmosphere but also helps children practice their language and communication skills.
Instead of letting children watch cartoons while eating, Jaishree advises parents to talk with their children during meals. Ask them about the day's food, their feelings about the taste, or simply share little stories from the day.
Alternatively, have children arrange food into smiley faces or small scenes on the plate to create interest. Parents can also play games like blindfolding the child and having them guess the food by its taste or smell, a fun way to develop their senses.
When parents are busy with housework
Instead of using screens to keep your children occupied while you're busy with household chores, try turning everyday tasks into opportunities for them to participate and learn.
Rowena Mark Ramos suggests that letting children share some of the household responsibilities not only keeps them busy but also fosters independence. You can take them shopping, have them transfer clothes from the basket to the washing machine, fold clothes, or give them a small broom to sweep the floor while you vacuum.
In the kitchen, children can also help with simple tasks like mixing ingredients, transferring food, or sprinkling salt—small tasks that make them feel like real "chef's assistants."
According to Amelia Jaishree, cleaning up can also be turned into a game. Challenge children with questions like, "Can you put all your toys back in the right place in 2 minutes?" This is both fun and helps children develop organizational skills naturally.
When traveling
Instead of letting children stare at screens during long journeys or while you wait too long at work, Amelia Jaishree suggests some simple yet creative activities to turn "downtime" into fun and productive moments.
Turn everything around you into a game:Count the number of buses, bicycles, or trees along the road with your child, turning it into a little competition: "Who can see 10 trees first?"
Play the game "I guess that...":Describe an object by its color, shape, or function, and ask the child to guess what it is. This is a great way to train a child's observation and thinking skills.
Prepare toys for young children:For toddlers, you can bring along gentle toys like fidget spinners, soft balls, or toys with interesting surfaces to stimulate their senses and keep them actively busy.
Challenge older children with a clever guessing game:For older children, play the "20 Questions" game to practice questioning, reasoning, and language development.
Additionally, Amelia Jaishree suggests a more creative and approachable way to help children fall asleep at night, instead of using bedtime story apps.
Therefore, parents should turn off the devices, turn on a flashlight, and create shadow puppet scenes on the wall with their children while telling stories. The soft light and vivid imagination not only make the story more engaging but also help children relax and fall asleep naturally.
Meanwhile, parenting and digital skills expert Carol Loi issued an important warning: screens should not be used as a reward for completing assignments or good behavior.
Using games or videos as "rewards" can inadvertently diminish a child's intrinsic motivation to learn, causing them to study only for the sake of playing, rather than seeing the true value of learning. They might even do their homework carelessly, just to get their "reward" from the device sooner, instead of truly understanding the lesson and developing their thinking skills.
To help parents better manage screen time for young children using devices such as smartphones, tablets, and TVs, the Singapore Ministry of Health issued updated guidelines on January 21st.
This guide places particular emphasis on recommendations for children under 12 years of age, including:
- Do not allow children to use screens during mealtimes or within one hour before bedtime.
- Children under 18 months old should be completely avoided from using screens, except when making video calls with family members.
- Children under 7 years old should also avoid screens that are running in the background, meaning the screen remains on while the child is doing other things.
