Less screen time means more you time.
Think about this: every hour we spend in front of a screen robs us of valuable time we could be spending doing something else that we really enjoy—like chatting with a friend, refinishing a chair, learning a new song on the guitar or baking muffins with the kids. Challenge your whole family to cut back on TV, computer use and video games to 1 hour a day on weekdays, 2 hours on weekends. Here are the top 5 things you need to know about getting started:
- Set limits for everyone. Adults should watch no more than 2 hours of television a day, and school-aged kids should watch no more than 1 hour on school days, and 2 hours on weekends. Kids 4 and under should watch almost no TV. Make sure everyone has clear limits for the shows they can watch, and what needs to be done before they can watch (homework, room clean, etc.). Remember that TV, computer use and video games are a privilege, not a right!
- Turn off the TV. Turn off the tube when no one is watching—it only encourages family members to sneak in extra TV time instead of doing something more worthwhile. Play music instead if you need background noise.
- Remember that educational programs can only do so much. The best way to learn is through real-life activities, including play, chores, sports, hobbies, and more--not staring at a screen.
- Encourage other activities. Whether you or your kids use TV to relax or as entertainment, there are plenty of alternatives. Keep a list on hand for your kids (find suggestions here), and even for yourself!
- Limit the situations when you watch TV. Make a habit of always turning the TV off for mealtimes so you can connect as a family. Resist the urge to use the television as a babysitter, since it’s not healthy for young children to watch. Also, take the TV, video game system and even the computer out of your child’s room, no matter what age they are, and discuss with him or her why less screen time is better.
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Reduce your cable or satellite subscription. Not only will you watch less TV, you’ll save money every month!
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Go cold turkey for a week. Pick a week when the weather’s nice to be a “No Screens” week, and unplug them all. Make sure you fill the time with fun family activities, including getting outside and heading to your local library for stories without screens. (If you must check your email, do it after the kids are in bed, or at work.)
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Listen to books on CD, and let your kids listen to their favorites, too. It’s a great way to get a good story without a lot of screen time!
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It’s okay to spend a little extra screen time once in a while. Just make sure you spend extra time with the screens off, too!
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Make a house rule: No TV when the sun is shining!
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Make a house rule: No TV until homework is done!
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Drape a blanket over your TV or computer so young kids know when the screen is off limits.
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If you enjoy watching sports or Olympics, plan ahead so you only choose events that really matter to you—otherwise, the hours can add up fast. Follow the other scores in the newspaper.
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Want to enjoy a family movie night? Just make sure the screens are shut off early on the days before the movie night so everyone has enough screen time “saved up” to watch the full feature!
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Help your kids turn off screens even at friends’ or relatives’ houses by teaching them alternative activities to suggest, like playing a game or going outside.
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If you have more than one video game system, computer or TV for your household, consider donating the extras to a worthy charity. Having more screens in the house only makes you want to watch more, and you’ll be helping others by donating the ones you don’t need.
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If your TV sits right in the middle of your living room, move it to a corner, or a less popular room in your house. Out of sight, out of mind!