Back Away from the Monitor
by: Robert Nickell
With social media and gaming pounding down the nursery door,
you have a right to be a little bit concerned about the future of your child.
Kids these days are growing up while being constantly bombarded by the drones of
social media and gaming devices. Thanks to smartphones, they are able to stay
connected 24/7 exerting all of their time and energy into a technological
device and falling short at life’s more exciting ventures.
I’ve had six kids of my own; they range in age from 9 months
to 25 years, and they’ve taught me a thing or two about the importance of
staying connected while not revolving your life around video games and
Facebook.
It’s important to monitor the amount of time your kids spend
in front of the television, game controller in hand, with their personal gaming
device or on the Internet socializing. Don’t get me wrong, these activities can
be wonderful and enjoyable and provide a fantastic way to stay connected to
friends, however, they only act as positives in your children’s lives if they
are done in moderation.
Here are a few tips I’ve come up with to help parents manage
the amount of time your child spends with social media and gaming.
Level one: Start
when your kids are young. Set a limit on the amount of time they spend each day
on the computer and playing games in front of the television. They will then
begin to learn about time management while simultaneously learning that there
are other enjoyable ways they can spend an evening or a Saturday.
Ring the dinner bell:
I have always felt strongly that families should have dinner together. It
allows busy families an hour to simply be together, talk and bond. Start the
process by encouraging your child help with dinner preparations; give them a
small duty like cooking the biscuits, stirring the sauce, fixing dessert, or
even setting the table. Spending time with your child while preparing dinner
and then while eating dinner ensures your child has something to do other than
sit in front of the computer, plus you are able to sneak in some quality time
together.
Alternative
activities: Introduce and encourage your child to participate in alternate
activities like: riding a bike, phoning a friend, playing at the park, throwing
the ball around, reading, picking up a new hobby, walking the dog, and even doing
their homework! In short, motiviate your
child to try something new, and don’t forget to show your excitement and
enthusiasm for their efforts in decreasing the amount of time they’re spending
in front of the television or computer screen.
You too: It
seems, often times, kids are bored, so they turn to alternative forms of easy
entertainment. Participating in activities with your child is of the utmost
importance. Plan afternoons together playing at the park or going on a hike.
Family game nights at home are excellent. Board games and card games are always
fun. And occasionally, video games and the Wii – but only if you can play with
them!
It will take a bit of planning – but it will be worth it to
show your child that there’s more to life than then ever-consuming world of
gaming and social media. Encourage your child to try something new, or jump
right in and try something new right along with your child. Show them the many
enjoyable activities available to them daily.
Sincerely,
Daddy Nickell
Robert
Nickell, aka Daddy Nickell, father of 6, offers his "5 cents" worth
of advice to expectant and new parents. Daddy Nickell is the founder of Daddyscrubs.com, delivery room duds and daddy gear for dads, and the Daddyscrubs.com blog where he covers topics about parenting and the latest baby and
kids gear, all from a Dad's perspective.
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