My son is addicted to watching videos. How can I reduce his screen time?

Do you find your kid watching videos or playing games on devices instead of spending time outdoors?
Do they need to watch TV to eat peacefully?
Here’s what the American Academy Of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recommends regarding screen time and kids:

• Until 18 months of age: Limit screen use to video chat along with an adult
• Between 18 and 24 months: Screen time should be limited to watching educational programming with a caregiver.
• For children 2–5, limit non-educational screen time to about 1 hour per weekday and 3 hours on weekends.
• For ages 6 & older: Encourage healthy habits and limit activities that include screens.
• No screens during family meals and outings.
• Learn about parental controls and use them judiciously.

So what can you do to help your child reduce screen time?

• Provide other options to screen time: Encourage your kids to pursue a hobby outside of the school curriculum. It could be a sport, crocheting, quilling or anything that might engage them. They could even learn a form of martial arts like Karate, Judo etc. which would help them stay safe as well as be physically active. See what activities your local community center offers.
• Be a good role model: When you spend time with your kids, keep all your screens away and interact with them. Ask them about how their day is going. Live in the moment- your kids are always watching.
• Show an interest in your kids’ online activities: Take an active interest in what your kid is watching online. Kids may be exposed to content that encourages violence and other dangerous behaviors. Ads can sometimes be inappropriately placed. Make sure all their content is enriching and age-appropriate.
• Stay informed about your kid’s digital life: Be aware of your child’s online persona. Do your homework when it comes to apps that are safe for your child. Look out for reviews before you install any app for your kids. Make sure they are not able to interact with strangers on any platform without your permission.
• Screens aren’t pacifiers: Kids may throw major tantrums in order to guilt you into giving them more screen time. The only thing you can do here is to hold your ground and say no. Instead, distract them with other activities like a slime kit or a science experiment that may hold their interest. Baking is a great family activity to try on a weekend.
• Bedrooms to be a no-screen zone: All gadgets should be submitted an hour before sleeping and bedrooms should be turned into a no-gadget zone for kids. Kids should be involved in activities like reading bedtime stories or having family conversations that focus on how they would like the next day to look for them. It could be actually anything under the sun.

In the end, it’s all about finding a balance between screen time and other activities that support a child’s physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development. Childhood is a fleeting time, once lost would never return and will leave one with a great sense of loss. Parents and caregivers need to set guidelines for screen time and encourage children to engage in other activities like outdoor play, reading, and creative pursuits.