KiddieHab
"Meet Me Where I Am"
Kiddie Athlete
KiddieHab Athlete strives to promote...
-Health, Wellness, and Good Nutrition
-Supporting and promoting Qualified & Certified Sports Coaching and Safe Training
Will Address:
-Physical Activity
-Reduced Screen-Time
-Pre/Post Nutrition for Child Athletes
-Training Safety
Play, Grow and Dominate!
Strategies for Diminishing Screen-Time
Hello Kiddies, Parents, Caregivers, and Teachers!
More so now, then any other time, we are aware of the amount of time we are spending in front of screens! Unfortunately, due to hybrid and distance
learning, concerns around diminishing screen time has become more and more of a growing concern.
We do many things on our screens from entertainment to teaching, so diminishing screen time has become a primary concern across many health, medical, and mental health professions. Efforts to create better tools and guidance around diminishing screen-time has become part of public health and health promotion strategies related to better health and wellness, for both adults and kiddies.
Concerns around diminishing screen-time are not only related to medical and health related exposure to amounts of blue light and other health related outcomes; but it is also related to exposure to potentially harmful influences as well.
These influences include [1]:
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Exposure to videos of stunts or challenges that may inspire unsafe
behavior. -
Sexual content.
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Negative stereotypes about others.
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Substance use.
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Exposure to cyberbullies and predators.
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Advertising that is aimed at your child.
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Misleading or inaccurate information.
The harmful effects of too much screen time:
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Sleep Disturbances.
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Affect grades, distracted from completing schoolwork.
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Less reading of books.
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Less time with family & friends and becoming more isolated.
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Not enough outdoor or physical activity and increases in sedentary habits.
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Weight problems associated with less physical activity and more sedentary habits.
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More irritable and moody.
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Poor self-image and body image issues.
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Fear of missing out on stimulation and constant information.
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Having more difficult time finding a different way to learn and have fun.
Unsupervised and unmonitored screen-time are both an access and safety issue. Therefore, no kiddie is too young for a screen-time plan. The American Academy of Pediatrics has toolkits available to create a Family Media Plan and a Media Time Calculator according to each age/grade development stage, from 18 months to 18 years old. The toolkit is also available in Spanish.
A plan to address diminishing screen-time should be part of every family's planning. Similar to fire escape plans or tornado plans, these help everyone get on the same page, about what is expected of each family member. The planning process can be fun and inclusive. It can teach children to be more accountable and responsible; while also teaching valuable time-management and executive functioning skills. These skills help kiddies learn to plan and focus, which are both valuable skills for future success in school, work, and life.
In addition, time away from screens will be more enjoyable and meaningful. Vice versa, timed and planned, screen time will also hold more weight.
Here are some activities that you can do as a parent or caregiver to prepare to create a family media/screen plan:
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Have a discussion with Kiddies about what they are watching and being expose too right now. Also, discuss experiences and events, that point out good behaviors associated with cooperation, friendship, and the concern for others, that make more connections between appropriate behavior online or the content of the subject being viewed.
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Learn TV/Cable/Streaming programs to alter and program services so that they are age appropriate.
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Encourage Kiddies to participate in activities and play, that are not involved or minimal involvement with screens, such as sports, music, art, and other hobbies.
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Teach children about online privacy and safety, and provide opportunities and an environment of trust; so that Kiddies feel comfortable coming to you, if they read or see something inappropriate or are solicited online.
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Make sure that programs and screens are individualized to your Kiddie's stage of growth, development, and maturity. You will be the best judge of that.
Write In
20-Day Calendar
Non-Screen Calendar
References:
1.) (2020) Screen Time and Children (No. 54). American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Retrieved from
https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Children-And-Watching-TV-054.aspx
2.) (2020) Family Digital Wellness Guide. Center on Media and Child Health. Retrieved from https://cmch.tv/familydigitalwellness/
3.) (2020) Family Media Plan. American Academy of Pediatrics. Retrieved from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/media/
Pages/default.aspx
