As a parent, it is incredibly difficult to navigate the modern challenges of raising a child. The traditional problems are tough too but at least for those, we have the example that was set by the previous generation and likely knows that making your kids eat the occasional vegetable is a good idea. What about the new challenges that are emerging? Is it ok to allow your child on the internet alone? At what age can they have their own phone? And really how much time should they be spending looking at a screen?
If you tell your child to eat vegetables then you better eat vegetables too or they will be quick to point out the hypocrisy. With that in mind, it can be tough to tell ids to follow your rules when it comes to screen time and not to follow them yourself. It is important that you make your child understand that at their age screens can do far more damage than they can on your weary eyes.
A new study has shown that the habits formed in young children will be the key detriment in how they behave when they are older and as a result their overall health and fitness. This means we must be careful of the rules and guidelines that we share with our kids.
As a parent of a young child, it can be tempting to sit them in front of a screen for an hour and let them watch a show. The movement on the screen will keep any excited child occupied and will allow you to get some much-needed errands done. However, you must be careful. By allowing your child too much time in front of a screen at an early age you are setting a dangerous precedent.
A new study has shown that children who spend too much time on a screen at the age of two or three are considerably less active than their counterparts at the age of five. This is a slippery slope that could cause them to be overweight and unhealthy in the early years of school.
The reasons why people become overweight are varied. There is no one rule to ensure that your child grows up healthy. However, there are certain trends that we know we must follow or avoid to give them the best chance.
Eating your five fruit and veg a day is vital for a child’s growth and development. Sleeping the appropriate amount of hours is key too. It is seven hours for an adult but closer to ten for a child. Finally, it appears clear that limiting your child’s screen time is vital to ensure they move around.
The study showed that children who spend more than three hours a day glued to a screen are likely to move around thirty minutes less than children who spend less time at a screen. These thirty minutes may mean little at the age of three but as they grow up they start to count. Start your child on the right trend early.
Setting good habits is the key to good parenting. If you send your child mixed signals they don’t know what is right or wrong. By setting up good habits you can ensure that your child is on the right path. Follow our advice and don’t allow a child screen time of more than one hour per day unless it is required for school work.
By limiting the screentime and forcing them to exercise you are saving them a lot of pain in later life. Do the right thing for your child and if required limit your own screen time as well. We are all a little too interested in screens and if it takes a child to learn to stay away then that is a good thing.