We live in the age of digital media and we practice what we preach. How long can you stay without looking at your phone? And how many times do you take a peek when you’re with your baby?
Children mimic adults in every way, especially their primary caregivers, most often mothers. You may find some children always on the phone, looking for something, while some others don’t care if it’s around them. It’s all because we do the same thing. Adults are like mirrors for children. They will replicate every good or bad habit we have. Let’s make it an intentional effort to keep the phone down and focus on the happiness and positivity around us.
Living in a joint family has its own added benefits and discomfort, one of them being screentime. It’s difficult for grandparents to run around and engage the kids in active play considering their age. What’s the easiest thing to do to make the children sit with them and give them screentime. We as parents should explain to them the reasons why screentime is bad for them. Sometimes it might work and they wouldn’t do it but sometimes explaining doesn’t help as well. I live in a joint family of 14 people and my children don’t get more than half an hour of screen time in a day and sometimes not even that much.
How do I do it?
When grandfather comes back from work, I have a play set up done in their room so they can play together. Think of what your child likes the most, and keep those things in the grandparents’ room and let them play. If your child likes water, let them do some sink play, if your child likes cutting things, give them some old newspapers and magazines to cut. And if nothing works out, go to their room and distract them from screentime by offering them something more lucrative than that. Maybe a walk or a drive outside the house. It’s really easy to distract children and I do it even for my 5-year-old. Screentime is a habit, when you get rid of it slowly it seems impossible but with some effort, your time can result in something more productive. And when it does happen your child won’t ask for it themselves.
On this note, we are having a screentime workshop on the 7th of September with a multi psychologist and a life wellness coach. Contact us for registrations.
