Reduce Screen Time With These 3 Easy Steps

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TV is one of those things I told myself I’d never allow my kids to ‘do’. I’d never use DVD’s as a babysitter for a moment of sanity, silence or for a hot cup of tea.

Hah! Laugh with me here, moms. 3 kids later, I can recite the Aristocats movie and {almost} tolerate those Barney songs. They allow me to make breakfast, take a shower and have a cup of coffee most days. But, in all honesty, they also rack up the mom guilt. When my kids sit watching a movie, it’s as if I can FEEL their brains turning off; their IQ’s flittering out of the window. As much as I love screen time, I hate it as much! Can you relate?!

HOW TO REPLACE SCREEN TIME WITH A CALM, SECURE ROUTINE

So here are some ideas on how to decrease your child’s screen time, and up the time they can spend doing something mentally stimulating and engaging:

1. Interest- led Activities

For a few weeks last year, I was teaching extra Maths from home, and had people over some afternoons, and NO SITTER. So I trained my kids to spend three twenty-minute stretches of time, working on activities they each loved. {Since then, I have my afternoons free, but I still use this occasionally instead of screen time, as my kids love it and I prefer it!} Each child has his/her own interests, so my daughter would paint, draw, do a puzzle and my older son would build with Lego, do some Math games in a book and play a construction game.

It took a few days of consecutive training for them to get  used to the idea of their staying in one place, for twenty minutes at a time until the alarm went off, but they got used to it and actually really enjoyed the time alone, seperate from siblings, to build/draw.
Find what your child loves engaging with, and set up a routine where they can be alone to really engage in that activity.

2. A Personal Space For Each Child’s Activities

Each child gets their own space where they keep their favorite activities. My daughter loves a blanket on the floor in the sun, and my son loves a table.
Find where your child feels most comfortable playing, and let them help set up  the space with you, with personal touches.

3. Create a Safe, Calm Play- Environment Your Child Will Look Forward To Being In

After a week of practicing our quiet-time play hour, my kids actually loved it. They calmed down quickly, settled into their spaces and focused on their activity. They also got used to not interrupting siblings in their spaces, and each had a favorite piece of music that I played in the background every 20min timeslot. My son loves David Garrit, my daugher loves piano music. Music in = mouths shut. A strange realisation, but it worked amazingly. Music, positive reinforcement of the habit of a quiet hour, and a lot of gentle encouragement worked wonders with my three littlies.
Children love a calm environment, doing activities they love, with calming music playing. Find out what music your child loves most – what they can listen to while focusing sufficiently on their activities, and what makes them feel happy/secure.

EXTRA: An App To Monitor Noise Levels

We use this app in moments I have phone calls to make or I need a bit of low-volume noise for my sanity. My kids respect it and see it as a game, which is really great!
Take a look at it HERE.

Replacing screen time isn’t easy, and it won’t be instant either. It’s a fun habit that is hard to break, and your children will miss it! But replacing it with a new routine that they enjoy will make it easier, and you’ll feel great about it too! Take the time and patience to practice finding a routine, activities, music and the environment where you and your children will work best. It’s worth it!