As a modern parent, you’ve probably heard all about the dangers of “screen time” for children. But also as a modern parent, you understand that it’s not all that easy to avoid most of the time. Well, there’s good news. Recent research has shown that screen time doesn’t have to be a problem. Instead, kids can use time with their device to their advantage. Need some help guiding your kids in the right direction? Here are a few things that you or your child can do to ensure that screen time isn’t a waste of time.

Family First

When you were a kid, you probably didn’t have a cell phone. A home phone was probably your only option for keeping in touch with family on a more personal level. Of course, there was always the mail, but we know how slow that can be. If you’re anxious for your family members to spend more time together, slip a Skype or Facetime call into your child’s designated screen time. They’ll still get to feel the power of using technology at their fingertips, but they’ll also get to stay in touch with Grandpa. Research has even shown that babies and toddlers can benefit from better family relationships through the use of digital devices.

Learn Self Control

We live in the age of technology. It is ubiquitous and pervasive in every aspect of our daily lives. Chances are, you, as an adult, use technology regularly throughout your day. As your child grows, they will need to incorporate technology into their lives as well, especially in school and work. It would be an incredible disservice to your kids to remove technology from their lives now and then fully expect them to know how to be a good digital citizen in the future.

Allowing your kids screen time can help them navigate the world of tech and develop a sense of self-control. Properly guided, and occasionally monitored, children will quickly learn how to behave online as well as how to properly deal with technology so that it becomes an aid rather than a distraction.

Games for Learning

Kids love to play games on the phone. It keeps them busy, prevents boredom, and if you’re wise, it can help them learn a thing or two. There are a wide variety of word-based games to help children improve vocabulary and spelling that feel more like games than an English lesson. With the encouragement of points, gems, or other rewards, children will quickly take to challenging themselves to get to the next level, which means they are learning more.

Critical Thinking

One of the great things about kids is their never-ending curiosity. But we are willing to bet that your child has often asked questions that you may not know the answer to. If this is the case, encourage your child to use their screen time to discover the answers to questions they may have. It might be tricky at first, but if they are of reading age, they will quickly be able to navigate Google and identify reliable sources, with your guidance. Encouraging this type of research will help your child develop critical thinking skills, which will carry them through school and into a successful adulthood.

 Concluding Thoughts

With a wealth of opinions coming at you from all angles, it can be hard to know how to approach screen time with your kids. But rest assured that screen time can definitely be used to your children’s advantage, with your help and guidance.