In today’s digital age, there is a whole other world that you have to navigate… which can be especially difficult when raising children. 

For parents, it’s important to teach your young ones healthy technology habits so they have the right attitude toward digital use and citizenship.

Of course, this is not an easy task. When every child has access to a tablet or smartphone, it can be hard to limit their usage, especially considering how addictive screen time can be. 

So what do the experts recommend you do to create healthy technology habits for your kids. 

Be a Good Role Model

When raising kids, things often come down to a case of ‘monkey see, monkey do’. If your little one sees mum or dad always looking at their phones, it will seem unfair to them that you tell them to limit their time on the screen.

Implementing rules that apply to your whole family can help set boundaries for your kids. For example, this could include:

• Tech-free zones
• Family media use plans
• Shared screen time 
• Outside play
• Non-device play

This can encourage your child to have a healthy perspective on technology and avoid isolation and attention issues.

Quality Over Quantity

While you don’t want your child looking at the screen all the time, it’s unrealistic to avoid technology altogether. 

Technology can be a great tool in aiding your child’s development, which is why you should encourage your child to use computers and tablets in an educational way, rather than just an emotional pacifier. 

Look out for educational games and apps that develop social skills, memory and cognitive function.

Be Mindful of Age

For younger ones, studies show that age matters when it comes to digital usage and experts recommend the following:

• For children 18 months or younger, screen time should be avoided completely, with the exception of video chatting
• For those between the ages of 2 and 5, try to limit the screen time to one hour a day and only high-quality or educational content.
• Ages 6 and up should have limits on technology to avoid disrupting sleep, exercise and other healthy habits.

Out and About

Technology isn’t just available to your child when they’re with you either… if the practices you implement at home aren’t being adhered to at daycare, this could unravel the hard work you’ve put in.

At Cubby Care, our staff understand the importance of a healthy attitude toward technology and are more than happy to work with you to make sure your child is on track to good digital usage. Don’t hesitate to Contact Us today!