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How to Decrease Screen Time Over the Holidays

Gift Ideas 

  • Gift cards are wonderful for movies, skiing, skating etc. Try to steer away from plastic toys and TECH!
  • Perhaps look at athletic equipment. Buy things for outside like a new toboggan.  Or consider things that use the brain and encourage socialization, like games. 
  • We need to reverse the inside hours of 4-6 hours a day to outside hours, so outdoor activities like  maple syrup farms are great.
  • Make memories by selecting unique art crafts or science projects. 
  • Our children need our time and attention. Spending time talking with no distractions is invaluable to their development.

Christmas Time & Screen Boundaries

  1. Set clear, concise rules about device time. Consider wake time, sleep time and play time. Make a two week schedule for your holiday that works for your traditions, work and weather. 
  2. Bedtimes must be set. An hour before bed no one should be on a device. The LED lights stimulate their brain and the social media increases anxiety. Sleep will not happen. Reading to them at bedtime calms their brain.
  3. Holiday crafts are the best.  When children can create and interact they will have good energy and will be happier indoors. Try crafting with music.
  4. Have them call a friend to hang out with. Tobogganing, snowball fights or building a snow fort – all are timely ideas.

 Spending time with family this holiday? Here are some ideas that work during COVID.

 

  • Skate in a park
  • Toboggan
  •  Hike
  • BirdWatch
  • Geocache
  • Paint Nites
  • Make hot chocolate
  • Bake cookies
  • Arts and crafts
  • Clean out their rooms
  • Make a bird feeder
  • Go to a zoo
  • Make a list of Christmas shows to watch
  • Meet a family for a fire with marshmallows
  • Play ice hockey
  • Make play dough with special colours

 

 

Listening to a parenting podcast can help you hear about various methods to balance life with tech and why less screens is the way of the future to help prevent mental health issues.  These psychologists and psychotherapists provide their expertise. Find “At the Table with Larissa” at https//iparentgen.com/podcasts/.

Larissa Mills, B. A., M.Ed. is the founder
of Iparentgen.com. She is a mother of three, a Parent Coach and a 4KIDS Sports & Educational Consultant.

 

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