3 Alternatives For Childhood Screentime

Both the bane (and convenience) of most modern parents is the prevalence of screens around them. Every parent will have their own idea of what access they allow their child to have, perhaps permitting a certain amount of gaming time per night after homework is done, or letting their child watch all the Disney princess movies, as is customary, and putting them on for comfort when needed.

But of course, we don’t just have televisions. We have laptops, smartphones, tablets, and more. Even your smart fridge might have games to play on it now. It can be exhausting to plan all this as a parent and decide when and how you want to give your child access, and to what extent. Screentime isn’t the enemy, of course, as most people in their thirties now can remember having a GameBoy or similar in their youth.

But if you can, it’s always healthy to encourage alternatives that don’t feel like punishments.

In this post, we’ll suggest a few, not as a prescription for your own child, but perhaps just to help you see some alternative options. With that in mind, please consider:

A Great, Suitable Book Collection

Finding books that hook your kid can feel like striking gold, because once they have their interest piqued by stories they love, reading becomes something they want to do instead of something you have to nag them about. The real parental secret is matching books to their interests and reading level so they don’t get frustrated or bored after the first chapter.

Your kids may love adventure stories, others get excited about books with animals or mystery plots, and some prefer non-fiction about dinosaurs or space exploration. Building up a collection means having options ready when they finish one book and want something new right away, instead of waiting for your next library trip, although a frequent trip to the library can be great too, and adds a sense of novelty.

Fun Activities (Even Academic)

Learning disguised as fun works way better than obvious educational programs that feels like extra homework, especially if you can find activities that let kids create something or solve puzzles at their own pace. Some of these might include home cooking together, building with blocks or Legos, or trying science experiments from YouTube videos, keeping their hands busy while their brains work on problem-solving.

However, for kids who struggle with practices reading, programs like the Orton Gillingham curriculum make learning feel more like games than boring drills, which helps them build skills they need for better outcomes..

Sports & Outdoor Fun

Getting kids moving outside gives them a completely different kind of energy outlet than sitting in front of screens for hours, not to mention they usually sleep better when they’ve been active during the day. We’re not necessarily talking about organized sports with uniforms and schedules, though some kids thrive on team activities and competition. Just kicking a ball around the garden or, going for walks where they can collect interesting rocks or leaves can help, as can setting up obstacle courses in your living room, which can burn off energy and give their eyes a break from staring at glowing rectangles all day long.

With this advice, we hope you can find a couple of remedies to get away from screentime.