{"id":11502,"date":"2018-01-16T09:00:15","date_gmt":"2018-01-16T17:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/?p=11502"},"modified":"2023-10-27T03:11:55","modified_gmt":"2023-10-27T10:11:55","slug":"how-to-make-screen-time-productive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/how-to-make-screen-time-productive\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Make Screen Time Productive"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69fbe771c0dc4\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #206be5;color:#206be5\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #206be5;color:#206be5\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69fbe771c0dc4\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/how-to-make-screen-time-productive\/#How_to_Make_Screen_Time_Productive\" >How to Make Screen Time Productive<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/how-to-make-screen-time-productive\/#Blend_Learning_and_Fun\" >Blend Learning and Fun<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/how-to-make-screen-time-productive\/#Distinguish_Between_Playing_and_Making\" >Distinguish Between Playing and Making<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/how-to-make-screen-time-productive\/#Look_to_the_Future\" >Look to the Future<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Make_Screen_Time_Productive\"><\/span><b>How to Make Screen Time Productive<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re concerned about the amount of screen time your kids are engaging in, you\u2019re not alone. Millions of parents worry that kids spend too much of their lives glued to screens, and for good reason \u2013 according to the <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/technology-32067158\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BBC<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the average child spends over 6 hours each day looking at a screen.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But we\u2019ll let you in on a little secret: giving in to your child\u2019s demands for screen time can actually help them expand their minds, develop problem-solving skills, and enhance creativity. How? By leveraging screen time with uplifting and engaging activities. It\u2019s a trend on the rise, and it\u2019s easier than you might think.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Blend_Learning_and_Fun\"><\/span><b>Blend Learning and Fun<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leveraging screen time doesn\u2019t mean allowing your children to play only strictly educational games. They don\u2019t need to be drilling math facts or learning history \u2013 the key is to find ways to keep them thinking and creating. Let them discover that learning is fun!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try swapping simple, distracting games for tablet art apps, games that involve solving mysteries or puzzles, and coding! Encourage your kids to find inspiration in the world around them as they make art on their tablets. When your kids look for a game to play, help them find a game that uses problem-solving skills.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As they learn to code, suggest that they recreate their favorite games or challenge them to code their favorite movie scene. Kids can share all kinds of skills as they code \u2013 as Featured Maker <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/noah-fuses-music-and-art-with-coding\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Noah<\/span><\/a>&#8216;s<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> mother Lauren said of her son\u2019s coding hobby, \u201c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He actually gets to use the skills that I like to see him work on, like sharing artistic talent, music, art, as well as math.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try having your kids program connected toys like drones or robots. They\u2019re hugely popular for good reason \u2013 kids get to use screens to create, then see the physical effects of their hard work and creativity in real-time. It\u2019s entertaining, of course, but it also provides a great feedback loop!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Distinguish_Between_Playing_and_Making\"><\/span><b>Distinguish Between Playing and Making<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We all love a little bit of mindless screen time now and then \u2013 social media is to you as gaming is to kids \u00ad\u2013 but kids have an immense capability to learn and create that needs to be explored! <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creativity is one of the most important skills your children can develop \u2013 in fact, a recent <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/annapowers\/2017\/12\/31\/the-most-important-skill-in-the-age-of-artificial-intelligence-ai\/#113269023264\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Forbes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> article cites creativity as the most important skill for a future of AI!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A good rule of thumb for leveraging your child\u2019s screen time is to find ways to focus on \u201cmaking\u201d rather than simply \u201cplaying.\u201d When kids are playing, they\u2019re following predetermined paths. When they\u2019re making, kids pave those paths.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here\u2019s an example: your child is playing a game, clicking and dragging, following a predetermined path. She\u2019s enjoying herself and relaxing, but she\u2019s not as engaged as she could or should be. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When she switches to building her own game, she\u2019s interacting with the platform in a new way. She\u2019s entertained by the prospect of a challenge, and pushes herself to learn new things in order to figure out how to create what she wants to make.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stephanie, Featured Maker <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/max\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Max<\/span><\/a>&#8216;s<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0mom, made a fantastic addition to this point, saying, \u201cMy husband especially is very anti-screen time, so he doesn\u2019t like the kids just watching TV \u2013 but this kind of activity is something he can do where he\u2019s actually being productive. There\u2019s a difference between passively just absorbing something and then actively engaging with it.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Look_to_the_Future\"><\/span><b>Look to the Future<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By creating opportunities for your kids to learn during their screen time, you\u2019re helping them build good habits. As they begin to discover the magic of making, kids might even take their making skills offline with art, LEGOs, or backyard forts! <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Quell your screen time concerns by leveraging that time for learning. Kids thrive when they\u2019re challenged and they love to create \u2013 what better way to encourage both?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try Tynker \u2013 you\u2019ll help your kids stay engaged and learning in their downtime while they build skills for the future! <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our guided courses, puzzles, and more ensure that every child will find something that ignites their passion for learning.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We don\u2019t do electronics, we don\u2019t do video games, we don\u2019t do any of that stuff &#8211; but I could see the benefit from Tynker. I thought \u201cWow, this is really cool,\u201d so I let them do it.\u201d \u00a0\u2013 Priscilla, Featured Maker <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/isaiah-loves-coding-to-make-games\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Isaia<\/span><\/i><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">h<\/span><\/em><\/a><em>&#8216;s<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/em><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">mother<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"sf-button large accent standard \" href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/parents\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"text\">Explore Courses<\/span><\/a>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How to Make Screen Time Productive If you\u2019re concerned about the amount of screen time your kids are engaging in, you\u2019re not alone. Millions of parents worry that kids spend too much of their lives glued to screens, and for good reason \u2013 according to the BBC, the average child spends over 6 hours each day looking at a screen. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":11537,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[53,12,124],"tags":[20],"class_list":["post-11502","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-coding-at-home","category-ideas-and-tips","category-learn-to-code-resource","tag-coding-for-kids"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Make Screen Time Productive - Tynker Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn valuable tips on making screen time productive by incorporating coding activities and unleashing creativity with Tynker.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/how-to-make-screen-time-productive\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Make Screen Time Productive - 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