Do we want to keep our kids away from technology? I don’t think we do – not completely. It’s an integral part of life. But it’s terrifying how quickly technology can take over and how easy it is to slip into a routine that’s ruled by it.
This is possibly the first time the world has invented things that aren’t useful or industrious. We didn’t have a problem when typewriters and motorised scooters came into the world but today’s tech is pleasurable, indulgent and unnecessary. Is that why we feel so uncomfortable allowing our children access to it?
Or is it because increasingly, we’re hearing how technology is taking a toll on children, developing kids with no imagination or sense of reality outside of video games and fantasy worlds?
And let’s be honest, it’s terrifying to watch a child swipe the spine of a book as they try to open it. So where’s the balance? How can we let our children experience technology in a healthy way, while holding on to the traditions that have shaped us into upstanding adults?
As a teacher turned toy hunter, here are my top tips on how to tame tech time in children under 12:
Zero tolerance under 2
No tech for children under 2 – as reported in the NY Times, their brains are developing rapidly at this age and they learn best by interacting with people, not screens. If you’re tempted to use technology at this age, choose highly interactive and educational options and only for very limited periods of time.
One hour tops till 12
I recommend one hour of tech-time per day tops for kids under 12. The last time they look at a screen should be at least one hour before bedtime, and part of that final hour should be used to recap what happened during the day. This is a proven meditation technique that settles the brain and calms the nerves. Reviewing what’s happened stops the mind whirring and brings it to the here and now. From there, you can prepare for tomorrow with calm and conviction.
As kids get older (9-12) you might like to empower them by allowing them to choose when the tech hour arrives. Would they like 30 minutes in the morning, and 30 minutes in the evening? Giving them this control is good for building confidence, making decisions and accountability.
Books before bedtime
This remains one of my all time favourite techniques for chilling kids out. A good book before bedtime (or at anytime) will always calm children down because it’s naturally passive. It also triggers the imagination and helps kids develop creative tendencies – great for problem solving and thinking up new ideas. If they’ve been in front of a screen all evening, reading time will aid sleep and rest the eyes.
Tech-free dinner
This should apply to the entire family and guests: No technology at the dinner table! Phones, tablets and TVs should be off or away from the table.
This is hard, even for adults, especially when emails and texts are still coming in from colleagues and clients. Perhaps you could stack all devices on the sideboard before sitting down to dinner, and forfeit anyone who reaches to check their phone or tablet, (the threat of doing the dishes is usually a good deterrent!)
Battling boredom
Of course, the biggest complaint when we take away tech is boredom. So what can we fill all that spare time with?
Many of the games available on phones and tablets reward progress and problem solving. Replicate this with games such as this Tilt puzzle, which requires dexterity and hand-eye coordination to navigate the ball through the maze. It also comes with two additional game boards with increasingly difficulty. Just like a computer game!
If you’re keen to get your kids interacting with others, Kids charades game game just for kids is a good place to start.
This kids scavenger hunt game is the basis for so many computer games. The aim is to race around the garden and home to collect the items on the cards as quickly as possible. With indoor and outdoor cards you can play whatever the weather, and it guarantees action and lots of running and laughing.
If it’s the world of imagination that your kids love, try supplementing computer games with toys like this Doctor’s kit or a pop up play tent. Kids can go into their own creative worlds and make up stories all by themselves. Story telling is a huge part of computer games, so making this a part of play will help relieve withdrawal symptoms!
As parents, we’ve got a responsibility to expose our children to technology in order to prepare them for the world. Understanding this stuff will help them immensely in the future. But we’ve also got a responsibility to protect their health and develop their brains in the best way possible. Balancing tech time with down time and play time will help do this.
How do you tame technology in your household? Please share your stories and ideas in the comments. I’d love to hear from you.
Lisa is the managing director of what2buy4kids. Lisa’s wish is to make your job of finding a gift for the children in your life easier, or help you to take some of the time and frustration out of the search for that special gift for kids.
You can follow her on Twitter @what2buy4kids and Facebook
at facebook.com/What2Buy4Kids