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With technology now a key part of everyone’s everyday life, many of us find it hard to switch off and stop staring at screens. From our smartphones to laptops, tablets to games consoles, there are a variety of devices in our lives today that can be fun to use. However, spending too much time looking at screens can have a negative effect on our health and wellbeing. This applies to everyone, but it’s particularly true of young people, whose minds and bodies are still growing.
For teenagers, excessive screen time can have a negative impact on their mental health, and even lead them to neglect other parts of their life, such as hygiene and their education. Getting your teens away from their phones and games consoles might seem like a herculean task, but there are ways to reduce their screen time and encourage them to have fun in the real world. Check out our ideas below for practical advice to help you and your teen find the right balance between enjoying technology and not becoming addicted to staring at screens.
Monitor Their Screen Time And What They Do Online
If you’re concerned about how much time your teenager spends online, then you need to work out how much time they spend online, and what they do. If they spend a lot of time online, but the majority of it is for their education, then this isn’t such a bad thing. Screen time among teens more than doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic, as they had to learn online as well as communicate digitally. Now, you need to see if they’ve retained these past habits and if they can make changes to their lives to spend less time looking at screens.
Lead By Example
Setting rules is important when you’re asking your teenagers to stop spending so much time looking at screens, but you also need to remember that they will look to you and your actions for guidance. So, when you’re trying to wean your teenager off their screens, it’s important that you lead by example. If you tell your kid not to look at their phone during dinner, for example, then you look at yours while you’re eating, then they won’t take your instructions seriously. So, try to follow the rules you set out for your teenager, which will help them to see their importance and could also help you to improve your own life.
Motivate Them To Do Offline Activities
Instead of focusing on leaving behind the screens, turn your teen’s attention to the positive: there are loads of things they love to do that don’t require a computer. These might include playing sports, reading books, eating delicious treats and doing other fun activities. Check out some tips to motivate teens so that you can encourage your child to get out and about and do the offline activities they love.
Technology can be useful for teens, as it helps them to learn and can be a fun way for them to relax and unwind after a hard day. However, too much screen time can cause issues. Use these tips to find a good balance so that your child can enjoy the many benefits of cutting-edge technology
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