As we start a new chapter in our lives with the changing year, people tend to make New Year resolutions and goals that they must achieve this year. Most people revolve around weight loss goals, adopting a new hobby, etc. So, we are here to guide you about one thing you should add to your New Year’s resolution for your child’s wellness. We are talking about the child digital detox.
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We all know that today’s kids spend most of their time with their smartphones or playing games on their computers, which is unsuitable for their mental and physical health. The main reason behind children spending more time with digital gadgets is that parents don’t have much time for their children due to their work and other responsibilities.
But it’s necessary to control this digital habit in the initial stage; otherwise, it will be difficult for you and your children to get rid of the digital gadgets. So here we will tell you seven effective ways to implement a successful child digital detox, which every parent must know for the welfare of their children.
Why the child digital addiction is dangerous?
As per experts, a new generation is more likely to become digital addicts, either by spending time with smartphones and computers playing online games or watching movies. Kids want to spend more time with these things rather than spending time with nature, family, and their friend circle playing outdoor physical games, and this is not good for kids as these can lead to long-term effects on both physical and mental health.
As per studies, it has been found that kids or teenagers who spend more time with these digital gadgets have more chances of anger issues, lower self-esteem, anxiety or depression problems, less social contact, more suicidal thoughts, sleep disturbance, less physical activities, weight gain problems, aggressive behavior. So parents should spend some time with their kids and guide them about the children’s digital detox for the betterment of their lives.
Signs of Children Addicted to Digital Gadgets.
The most common signs that your children are addicted to digital gadgets are when any of the following things are connected to them. If your child’s behavior passed through more than 2 of the following, then you must know that there is a severe need for digital detox for your kid.
- When you can’t see your child without the smartphone in their hands.
- When your child asks for a smartphone during every meal of the day.
- When the first thing your child runs after waking up is their mobile
- And when denied for the screen time, your child becomes violent.
- When your child does not have a sense of time while using digital gadgets.
- When kept without any digital gadget for a day, your child becomes more restless and stressed with a low quality of work.
These are some of the most common signs that your child has become a digital addict, and you can’t force them to limit their screen time. You have to manage them gently, and we will tell you 7 of the best practical tips to implement a child digital detox as follows.
How to Implement A Child Digital Detox?
Digital Detox Yourself First
To reduce your kids’ digital time the first and most essential thing you should do is reduce your digital time because kids do what they see. So whenever in front of your kids, don’t use your smartphones, don’t take your phones to the dining table, and try to spend more quality family time with your children without any digital gadgets. Spending more active time with your goods will also motivate your kids not to use phones more.
No Digital Device Rule
The second thing you should do is implement a no-device rule for specific hours, like eating or before sleeping. It would be best if you made a timetable for your kids where they are allowed to use their smartphone for only 1-2 hours a day, and also, there should be at least a gap of 1-2 hours between their sleep and screen timings.
So make sure no phone is near their bed before their sleep time. It will prevent them from using phones before sleeping and thus will boost their sleep quality. Ensure they get 8-9 hours of sleep every day, and phones should not be the first thing they run for after waking up.
Introduce a new hobby to your kids.
Motivate your kids to join any hobby class. It might be dancing, swimming, music, or anything they like. Encourage your kids to DIY or do it yourself, which will use their time well. They will be engaged in more productive time rather than wasting time scrolling their phones. So, if you want to implement a child digital detox, you should help your kid find an engaging hobby for them.
Family Fun Time
One of the best ways for digital detox of your kid is having a family fun time. Spend some time with your kids playing indoor games or outdoor games. Indoor games like chess or other board games will encourage happy family time, and you can make good, fun memories, which will also create a great bond between all of you. Games like chess also boost cognitive skills. Outdoor games are helpful for a physical boost. Either indoor or outdoor games will help keep your kid busy away from digital gadgets.
Book Reading
Book reading is also one of the best child digital detox tips to keep your child away from digital gadgets. Motivate your child to spend some time in book reading. Bring some books of their interest that they find interesting while reading; these can be either comics, novels, or any other book that your kids love to read.
Art and Craft Session
One of the best ways to keep your kids away from digital gadgets is to engage them in arts and crafts sessions like drawing, knitting, or painting. This will be the best child digital detox habit to keep them busy and improve their creativity.
So these are some of the most essential and practical tips for child digital detox because it is essential for your kids. Otherwise, they will waste more of their time on digital gadgets. As discussed earlier, this will reduce their creativity and lead to other physical and mental issues. So, it’s time to implement the tips discussed in this article to make your children utilize their time more productively rather than wasting it on mobiles.
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