Ending Screen Time Arguments and Finding Balance With OurPact
For kids, being ‘connected’ at all times is the norm.
In fact, according to research, today’s American kid spends 7 and a half hours a day in front of screens, and that’s not including time using technology in school. When you add all that time up, it comes to a scary 52 and a half hours of screen time every week.
It’s clear that device use is a problem for a lot of kids. This means it’s also a problem for tons of parents.
The Risks of Screen Time
⦁ Obesity
⦁ Vision Impairment
⦁ Violent Behavior
⦁ Social Difficulties
⦁ Poor Academic Performance
⦁ Behavioral Issues
⦁ Sleep Problems
What Parents Can Do
Set clear limits. Outline what is and is not acceptable when it comes to screen time. Be sure to agree on how much screen time is allowed every day, and when screens are not allowed ever (ahem, family meals).
Enforce those limits. Consistently enforce the rules you have in place. This means never giving in to requests for ‘five more minutes’ or allowing devices after bedtime ‘once in a while.’ If your kid knows the limits aren’t strict, they’ll push them.
Set a good example. Practice what you preach, and preach what you practice. If your kids see you living the rules you’ve set, they’ll be far more likely to enforce them.
Pay attention to content quality. One hour of mindlessly playing games or browsing the web is not nearly as constructive as spending an hour interacting with a quality educational app. Check into what apps your kids are using, and make sure that minimal time is spent on low-quality apps.
OurPact: The Ultimate Screen Time Solution
Setting agreements and clearly communicating expectations will go a long way in helping your kid develop healthy device habits, but sometimes, a bit of technical reinforcement can go a long way.
OurPact is a free parental control app that enables parents to remotely manage their children’s device access through Internet and application blocking. At a touch, parents can block children’s access to social media, messaging apps, games, and browsers, for however long they want. It’s also possible to set up automated schedules that limit devices during specified time periods, such as bedtime hours.
The app is available in the iOS App Store for parents, as well as through a web app, and offers management of children’s iOS and Android devices.
Also, did I mention it’s completely free?
Sign up now to start managing screen time habits through OurPact today!
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