According to one parenting expert, babies and toddlers should be kept away from iPads and tablets at all times - it’s recommended that kids aged 2 to 5 should keep their screen time to an hour a day, and 5-18 year-olds should spend no more than two hours a day on their devices. The reality is a little bit different: recent research from Ofcom found that almost half of children aged 3-4 had their own tablet and 86% of toddlers watched content on YouTube every day.
The truth is that tablets and devices are now part of modern parenting, and though you could try to limit or remove them from your household routines entirely, adopting limits and coming up with new ways to occupy your little ones should prove more effective. Here are a few…
Monitor their screen time
Perhaps one of the most important things you can do as a parent is to monitor your youngster’s screen time and make sure you’re limiting their exposure. Spending too much time staring at a screen could delay their development of social and language skills. Our advice is to keep their screen time to short, 20-minute bursts throughout the day, and add in some fun activities like exercise and exploring when they’re not on their screens. And to state the obvious: your toddler doesn’t need an iPad at all. If they’re not showing interest in spending time on a device, then feel free not to introduce them to one in the first place.
Look at content together
A great way to parent with an iPad is to watch content together. Whether you’re enjoying free kids cartoons like Everything’s Rosie on YouTube, or you’re playing a fun memory game that tests their skills and patience, doing it as a family can make using technology more engaging for your little ones - and ultimately encourage them to spend more time in the “real world” rather than looking at a screen for hours on end. You can draw them out and ask them questions about the content they’re looking at, so they can learn and explore as they go. This will help your child develop their vocabulary and memory skills over time, and it means they’ll get to spend more quality time with their parents or guardians. It’s a win-win for all!
Introduce screen-free zones
It can be easy to let the boundaries slip and allow your children to take their iPad into their bedroom or restaurant, but setting some screen-free zones early on will help your children understand the importance of boundaries. iPads and other devices should be used in public places only, even with parental controls and locks, and enforcing this rule - no matter how tempting it may be to do otherwise - will serve your children well, whether they’re one or 11.
Make the most of their tablet
Finally, it’s important to remember that your child’s tablet is not the enemy. Sure, we all spend more time in front of our screens than we should, but they’re incredibly useful and can serve as a valuable learning tool for your little ones. Rather than be fearful of technology or make your children feel guilty for tapping away, embrace the vast array of tools, apps, shows, and music that are at your disposal. Babies love songs and music - so head on over to YouTube Kids and play songs like Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, and Old MacDonald Had a Farm - they’ll soon learn patterns and might even dance along.
There are lots of apps that allow you to play sounds like bells, animal sound effects, and more, and there are fun games designed to test your little one’s knowledge. Keep it simple and learn together - the more interactive you are, the more valuable they’ll find the experience.
Do you have any tips for reducing screen time? Let us know and check back soon for more.