Quality Time Away from Social Media for Children
Let’s face it – social media has become an integral part of our lives, kids and teens are spending more on-screen time than ever before. A large number of studies are being conducted addressing this concern, and the results are alarming to say the least. Despite age requirements to restrict young children from using many of the popular social media apps, Children of all ages are spending more and more time on these platforms. Children need to spend quality time away from social media!
The phenomenon is not surprising given that kids turn to screens not just for entertainment but to connect with friends when they are alone or lonely. During the pandemic, kids needed to connect with friends and family using the screen. Given that, an increased screen time is not that alarming on its own. What is concerning, is that they are spending hours watching videos, gaming, and forming unhealthy social habits. As well, they are exploring social media content that includes mature and inappropriate material.
Very often, the time spent on social media is replacing activities like sleep, chores, reading, exercise, and of course, family time. With misinformation rife on social media, kids can stumble upon endless articles and images that can confuse a child’s reality. The negative side effects to a young developing mind are staggering.
It’s time we step in as parents and caregivers to give our children what they deserve – high-quality time, building good habits in children. Sure it’s not easy being caught up with work and responsibilities as we see the day pass by in the blink of an eye! Here are some tips for effective digital parenting and getting it right with your kids:
1. Establish a daily connect:
Make sure to establish a face-to-face daily contact time with your kids. If that isn’t really possible every day, come up with other ways of doing it. It could be a video chat at a specific time of the day, leaving a note in the lunch box, posting a word of encouragement on the study table, or anything else that you feel would make your presence felt.
2. Shape-up a daily ritual:
Build a parent-child relationship that will last a lifetime. This could be anything from bedtime story reading to sharing experiences of the day. You could also think of sharing some screen time watching programs designed for kids. Make sure that children feel your presence when you are with them.
3. Share meal-time with kids:
Make use of every possible minute and share at least one meal with your children. When time isn’t on your side, opt for meals that need very little preparation. Sit down to have some fruits with them and chat all about what interests them.
4. Support positive behavior:
A child may want to please you as a parent or caregiver. If she/he completes chores or any other task without you explicitly asking for it, acknowledge and appreciate it. Make them feel valued for all their positive actions even if it is a small one. It will make them feel valued and acknowledge the parental warmth you have for them.
5. Replace social media time when possible:
Take the smallest opportunity to spend quality time with your kids. It may be only a few minutes while driving them to the school. Make it a point to cut out any screen time and engage in conversations with them. Play their favorite music, let them share their interests with you, or discuss kids’ inspirational activities with them. You are likely to be able to deal with a host of child behavior issues easily by engaging with them this way.
6. Have an open dialogue with children:
Talk to your children and openly discuss how you expect them to spend screen time and behave when online. Teach them the importance of using secure passwords and not giving away personal information online. At the same time encourage them to share their experiences and their digital challenges like making the latest video. Keeping the conversation open means you get to hear your kid’s side of the story while you get to reinforce your rules.
7. Educate your kids on the risks of social media:
Explain to them in detail about the risks that the internet poses and help them understand how social media could come in their harm’s way. Make it easier for them to spot warning signs. They may be aware of the latest meme trends, but when it comes to risks, they’re the most vulnerable! Kids need to understand that everyone they meet through social media may not be their friend, especially strangers. Encourage them to tell you about any stranger especially adults trying to befriend them.
8. Set ground rules for social media use:
Take out time to have a conversation with kids to set clear rules about accounts they are allowed to follow, and posts they could make. Set out some ground rules together as though you and they are a team. This will set the grounds for you to decide on penalties in case they break the rules. Help them understand that much like the real world, the cyber world can be extremely dangerous and lead to outrageous consequences.
9. Consider a device curfew:
Set up a time limit for social media, and other screen time. Mobiles and monitors can seriously affect sleep cycles by causing melatonin issues that have cascading effects on physical and mental health. Ensure that they do not use any form of social media at least 30 minutes before going to bed. Find the best way your family can empower, and educate kids while keeping them happy.
10. Stay updated on the privacy settings of your child:
Check out the privacy settings of every platform that your kid may have access to. Each platform has its unique settings. But you can easily have them covered using a good Parental Control App. These apps let you get the geographic location of your child so that you know they are safe. You can also use them to set a time limit for the social media platforms where they are active.
Take for example Cause and Effect Parental Control App,
This is an excellent Parental Control App that lets you monitor all of your child’s activity on a device. It helps parents in giving their kids the right access at the right time while also keeping them updated on all their activities. Here’s what the …….. can do for you as the best Parental Control App:
- Monitor child’s devices by parents;
- Blocks distracting apps;
- Limits screen time;
- Disable apps on the child’s device for a certain time period;
- Device screenshots at fixed time intervals;
Conclusion
While we cannot deny the use of devices and digital platforms to our children, it’s absolutely necessary to exercise measured control over them. Using a full-service Parental Control App like The Cause and Effect App you can check all the boxes you need as a parent or caregiver. You will be able to monitor app usage, limit screen time, and block inappropriate content across the internet. Do it all while being fully updated on what kids have been up to via alerts and a parental dashboard along with a family feed. Budget-friendly, and secure, you get all the advantages of being a good parent who has her/his way with the kids for the right reasons!!!