Helpful tips to help children reduce screen time

Nowadays, many parents tend to use electronic devices as a “multi-purpose” solution to take care of their children, from keeping them still when they need to complete work, to using educational videos as a learning aid. Screens are gradually becoming the “unwilling babysitter” in many modern families.

However, screen abuse, even with good intentions, has many potential risks. Excessive exposure to devices can negatively affect a child’s overall development, including communication skills, motor development, vision, sleep habits, and even the ability to self-regulate emotions.

Instead of interacting with the real world, children are easily drawn into passive virtual environments, thereby forming a dependence on devices for entertainment, instead of learning how to play independently or interact socially.

To support parents in their journey to help their children balance screen time, here are some suggestions for alternative activities that are both fun and educational.

These activities not only provide healthy entertainment for children, 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 occupied, parents can try a simpler but more effective way by preparing a bag of toys.

According to Ms Rowena Mark Ramos (37 years old), Head of Curriculum at Babilou Family Education Centre Singapore, this small bag can contain items such as magnets, colouring books or mini toys.

These activities not only entertain children but also stimulate creativity, from creating shapes with magnets, coloring with crayons, to transforming into imaginary worlds with tiny dinosaurs.

Ms Amelia Jaishree, a lecturer at the National Institute of Early Childhood Development in Singapore, also suggests a simple yet fun game: “Which would you rather have?”, with fun questions like “Would you rather have a giant strawberry or a tiny watermelon?”. This not only creates a fun atmosphere but also helps children practice their language and communication skills.

And instead of letting children watch cartoons while eating, Ms. Jaishree recommends parents talk to their children during meals. Ask them about the food they ate today, how they felt about the taste, or simply tell each other small stories about the day.

Or have your child arrange the food into a smiley face or a small scene on the plate to create excitement. Parents can also play games like blindfolding the child and having him guess the food by taste or smell, a fun way to develop the senses.

When parents are busy with housework

Instead of using screens to “keep” your kids occupied while you’re busy with housework, try turning everyday tasks into opportunities for them to participate and learn.

Rowena Mark Ramos suggests that letting your child share in some of the household responsibilities not only keeps them busy but also fosters independence. You can take them shopping, have them carry laundry from the hamper to the washing machine, fold laundry, or give them a small broom to sweep the floor while you vacuum.

In the kitchen, children can also help with simple tasks such as mixing ingredients, transferring food or sprinkling salt, small steps that make them feel like real "chef's assistants".

According to Amelia Jaishree, cleaning can also be turned into a game. Challenge your child with questions like, “Can you put all your toys away in 2 minutes?” This is both fun and helps your child practice organizational skills naturally.

When traveling

Instead of letting your kids glued to screens during long commutes or long waits while you work, Amelia Jaishree suggests some simple yet creative activities to turn dead time into fun and rewarding moments.

Turn everything around into a game:Count the number of buses, bicycles, or trees along the road with your child, and make it a little competition: “Who sees 10 trees first?”

Play the “I guess…” game:Describe an object by its color, shape, or function and ask your child to guess what it is. This is a great way to develop their observation and thinking skills.

Prepare toys for children:For toddlers, you can bring along gentle toys like fidget spinners, soft balls, or items with interesting textures to stimulate the senses and keep your baby occupied in a positive way.

Challenge older kids with a clever guessing game:For older children, play “20 Questions” to practice questioning, reasoning and language development skills.

Additionally, Amelia Jaishree suggests a more creative and approachable approach to helping children fall asleep at night instead of using bedtime story apps.

Accordingly, parents should turn off the device, turn on the flashlight and create shadow puppets on the wall with their children while telling stories. Soft lighting and soaring imagination not only make the story more vivid, but also help children relax and fall asleep naturally.

Meanwhile, parenting and digital literacy expert Carol Loi offers an important warning: don't use screens as rewards for completing homework or good behavior.

Using games or videos as “rewards” can unintentionally reduce children’s intrinsic motivation to learn, causing them to learn just to play, rather than seeing the real value of learning. Children may even do their homework perfunctorily, just to be “rewarded” with a device soon, instead of truly understanding the lesson and practicing thinking.

In order to help parents have a clearer direction in managing screen time such as smartphones, tablets, TVs, etc. in young children, the Singapore Ministry of Health issued an updated guideline on January 21.

This guidance places particular emphasis on recommendations for children under 12 years of age, including:

- Do not let children use screens during mealtimes or within 1 hour before bedtime.

- Children under 18 months should avoid screen use altogether, except when video calling with relatives.

- Children under 7 years old should also not be exposed to screens that are running in the background, meaning the screen remains on while the child is doing other things.