How to Limit Your Child’s Screen Time

by JOSHUA BECKER at BecomingMinimalist.com

“Television is the menace that everyone loves to hate but can’t seem to live without.” – Paddy Chayevsky

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation:

• Kids under age 6 watch an average of about 2 hours of screen media a day, primarily TV and videos or DVDs.
• Kids and teens 8 to 18 years spend nearly 4 hours a day in front of a TV screen and almost 2 additional hours on the computer (outside of schoolwork) and playing video games.
• Counting all media outlets, 8-18 year-olds devote an average of 7 hours and 38 minutes to using entertainment media across a typical day

And the effects of television on children are not good. Children who watch too much television…

• Carry a much higher risk of childhood obesity.
• Are more likely to display aggressive behavior. Children naturally copy what they see. (For a simple, chilling experiment, allow your son to watch professional wrestling and see how long it takes before he tackles his sister).
• Are more likely to engage in “risky behaviors” when they get older.
• Have less energy.
• Have a harder time in school.
• Are more-exposed to commercials, advertisements, and propaganda.

There is no wonder why “Ten Reasons to Watch Less Television“ is one of the most popular posts on this site. Most people would agree that our culture watches too much. Yet, few people are able to curb their habit and reclaim their life. And even fewer know how to help their children navigate this media-drenched world that we live in.

To help inspire parents, here are 12 Tips to Help Limit Your Child’s Screen Time. Each of these are tried-and-true methods used in our home and others.  READ Joshua’s post at BecomingMinimalist.com