Tips To Handle Your Kid's TV Time

Nowadays, kids are interested in indoor activities more than activities that need physical effort. This makes them attracted towards
video games and television. Although some screen time can beeducational, too much of it will spoil your kid. More screen time will result in certain medical complications like obesity, irregular sleep and behavioural problems. It will cause poor academic performance as well. Excessive screen time gives less opportunity for active and creative play.

Do you feel that your kids are glued to TV all the time? If so, remember that it is time to take some initiatives to free them from the lock. But, it is not so easy if you approach them without proper planning. Banning watching television is not the perfect solution. It is better to manage your kid's TV time schedule.

If you don't want to make your kid a couch potato, you should know how to handle your kid's TV time. Here are some easy points that you have to keep in your mind while planning a TV timetable for your kid.

Cut the time: Don't ask your kid to stop watching TV. Instead, reduce the time allowed for it. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting older children's screen time to no more than one or two hours a day.

Limit series programs: Limiting them from watching series programs is a good way to handle your kid's TV time. Series shows will increase their curiosity to watch the continuation in the next day. Ask your kid to pick any one or two particular shows to watch.

Divert them: Introduce new interesting activities that require their creativity and interest. Limit the total TV viewing time of your kid and encourage them to get involved in other actions. One or two hours a day is more than enough for your kid to watch TV.

Prefer kid friendly programs: While selecting programs for your kid, opt for kid friendly programs. Avoid violence and adult contents in any cases. Avoid programs that may cause emotional problems in kids. This will help you handle your kid's TV time.

Involve them: Instead of trying to force your kid to follow your plan, ask them to get involved in it. Give them a list of TV programs, and ask to select one or two from that. This will let the kid know that he/ she will be allowed to watch TV only for those selected programs.

Be a role model: Remember that your kid will try to follow you in all their deeds. So, if you want to limit or manage your kid's TV time schedule, you have to follow it first. Let your kid know that you are also having scheduled program for watching TV.

Stick on to your decision: If you want to handle your kid's TV time, it is important to be strict in implementing your plans. Do not allow any kind of violation in the TV watching schedule. Otherwise, it will adversely affect your effort.