Technology usage has improved our children’s life, especially the learning aspect. With the help of tech, children gain skills and knowledge from an early age, are independent, and learn in no time.
Tech is a valuable tool that provides our children fast access to educational information, reliable sources for searching, and courses.
But what happens when our children switch educational tech usage with fun, entertainment, and social media networks?
They develop excessive screen time habits which risky and addictive. The consequences of excessive screen time can be physical and mental health problems.
So, our parental role is to teach our children the importance of tech for improving their education and how to balance it with digital entertainment.
How to Balance Tech Use and Study Time
Starting school helps our children understand their educational skills, preferences, abilities, and interests. Parents and caregivers must be present and monitor their child’s school behavior and develop healthy learning habits.
Raising children that do their homework, study, and have healthy learning habits, creates responsible and successful individuals.
According to children’s school schedules, parents can set strict rules and expectations for their little ones at home and during the day.
After all, children have only one responsibility- education and preparation for a future career. Expert studies state that schoolchildren shouldn’t use tech for entertainment for more than two hours daily. So, create a distraction-free study environment like the following:
- Your children should often have 15-minute breaks when studying with tech;
- Set a room for learning where children will be focused and concentrated;
- Turn on relaxing music;
- Provide high-speed internet to make their searching faster;
- And don’t forget any meals;
Managing Access to Devices
Parents must monitor their children’s learning habits and whether they overuse tech for entertainment. The fact is that parents can’ be physically present all day to control their children’s behavior.
So, parents and caregivers can use parental control apps like Google Family Link, Qustodio, mSpy, and others to control their children remotely.
Moreover, parents can block distracting websites and apps such as social media platforms and video games, with blockers like StayFocusd, Limit, Pause, and Focus.
Encouraging Productive Tech Use
Productive tech usage is crucial for children’s learning and development process. Online learning platforms can help your child study, so parents should look for the best ones.
Quality educational apps and programs can be of various types, such as language learning apps, reading apps, creativity apps, etc.
Parents should encourage children to use tech when studying because they can gain knowledge while developing tech skills.
For example, if your child has trouble understanding the lecture, YouTube videos can help make it more understandable.
Promoting Healthy Study Habits
Healthy study habits help your child learn how to be an organized and responsible student. You can start by setting a studying schedule that includes school chores and other activities your children need to accomplish during the day.
Studying and screen time are done in a sedentary position, which affects a children’s physical health, so physical activities must be a part of that family plan.
Sports, walks, gathering with friends, and getting fresh air are relaxing activities perfect for children’s health and energy.
Going to bed without a smartphone and practicing good sleeping habits allows our little ones to be fresh and focused during the day.
Sleeping at night positively affects our children’s brains and improves their learning abilities. Studies show that schoolchildren should get between 8 and 12 hours of sleep daily.
Respecting schedules makes our children organized and responsible individuals. They appreciate the value of time management and execute the required tasks.
So, to sum up, you must teach your children to define their priorities and develop daily routines, which will help them achieve their goals.
Navigating Challenges and Obstacles
Parents should navigate children’s challenges and help them avoid hitting obstacles. For example, screen addiction in children prevents our little ones from going with their daily schedule.
Studies show that about 50% of all teens are addicted to their screens. So, parents mustn’t let children get addicted to screens because screen addiction negatively affects children’s learning abilities.
Another challenge parents and children face is procrastination. Everybody likes to relax sometimes. But children often procrastinate too much, so parents must teach children that avoiding chores isn’t a good habit.
Supporting Your Child’s Emotional Well-Being
School can be tiring. Teachers often put students under pressure by constantly giving them homework assignments and tests.
So, it’s normal for your child to stress about school. That’s why you, parents and caregivers, must support your child’s emotional well-being.
You can do this with simple things. For example, good food can cheer people up, so make your children’s favorite dinner when they come back from school stressed.
Or, you can sit down with your child and study together. Another thing to keep in mind is self-confidence. Children often self-criticize, especially regarding academic success. So, you must help your children build a self-confident character.
You can do this by studying with your children, but let them explain the lesson to you. Be engaged in their explanation and ask questions along the way. That will give your children the feeling that they know the lecture.
But if your children don’t understand the homework or assignment, do your best to help them. You can even watch YouTube videos that explain the lesson together.
Conclusion
Nowadays, we live in a digital world. Even children use tech to do school chores. Sometimes our little ones get distracted by their device and forget homework.
Therefore, parents must monitor their children and set rules and routines regarding study time. Also, parents and caregivers, don’t forget to hug your children and tell them you love them. Children that feel loved by their parents will do their best to study and make them proud.
FAQs
How Much Screen Time Is Too Much?
Anything more than two hours daily for entertainment is too much screen time.
What Are the Best Parental Control Apps?
The best parental control apps are Qustodio, Norton Family, mSpy, Google Family Link, etc.
How Can I Encourage My Child to Study Without Technology?
You can do this by showing your child they can still finish many school chores without using technology.
Is it Okay to Allow Screen Time During Breaks?
It is okay, but only if the breaks are short. If your children take longer breaks, you shouldn’t let them use tech during the whole time they’re resting.
How Can I Help My Child Maintain a Healthy Relationship with Technology?
You can do this by setting rules and boundaries regarding screen time that every family member will follow.
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