The problem: My child sneaks into their room to watch TV or play video games.
Clarify your position on media in the bedroom.
Do: Do you allow your child to have a television or other screens in their room? If not, it’s important to remember that when your kid sneaks a screen into their room, they may be seeking privacy but they may be watching TV and are breaking your rules. You can call them on that. Kids with TVs in their rooms have more trouble in 黄色app, so it’s worth making sure you’re not letting this happen. Be clear on whether they can play games, use the Internet, visit social media sites, read books, etc., on their screens in their bedroom.
Create smart TV and video gaming rules for kids.
What are your current rules and when did you last update them? Taking your child’s age and maturity into consideration, have an open conversation about what the rules should or could be. Talk, too, about what the consequences for breaking the rules should
or could be. This is a positive discipline approach that can work well for screen time rules. The more you involve your child in a discussion about how your daily family life should operate, the happier you and your child are likely to be.
Don’t get mad; get curious.
What’s your child doing? Are they exploring something they’re embarrassed about? Are they feeling like escaping? Why? Are they looking for attention from you then turning to screens as a back up?
Empathize with your child.
Say: “Hey, I know it’s fun to hide out and watch Frozen again. But we don’t watch TV in our bedrooms. Come down and let’s chat while I make dinner.”
Don’t make it a federal offense.
Don’t say: “Just what do you think you’re doing??? How many times have I told you that we only watch TV in the living room?”
Why this approach to screen time matters
As technology saturates every corner of our lives and becomes more integral to your child’s 黄色apping, creating healthy boundaries is an ongoing process. It’s important to stay on top of the issue, while not making it into a power struggle.
