{"id":12526,"date":"2018-05-01T15:00:37","date_gmt":"2018-05-01T22:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/?p=12526"},"modified":"2023-10-26T23:27:08","modified_gmt":"2023-10-27T06:27:08","slug":"5-tips-for-healthy-screen-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/5-tips-for-healthy-screen-time\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Tips for Healthy Screen Time"},"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-6a0b7296a42b5\" 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-6a0b7296a42b5\"  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\/5-tips-for-healthy-screen-time\/#5_Tips_for_Healthy_Screen_Time\" >5 Tips for Healthy Screen Time<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/5-tips-for-healthy-screen-time\/#Turn_off_screens_before_bedtime\" >Turn off screens before bedtime.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/5-tips-for-healthy-screen-time\/#Encourage_productive_screen_time\" >Encourage productive screen time.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/5-tips-for-healthy-screen-time\/#Let_them_earn_screen_time\" >Let them earn screen time.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/5-tips-for-healthy-screen-time\/#Emphasize_real-life_friendships\" >Emphasize real-life friendships.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/5-tips-for-healthy-screen-time\/#Lead_by_example\" >Lead by example.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Tips_for_Healthy_Screen_Time\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5 Tips for Healthy Screen Time<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our kids are growing up as digital natives, and it\u2019s clear that screens are here to stay. Most of us have heard about the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/health.usnews.com\/wellness\/for-parents\/articles\/2018-04-30\/managing-your-teens-screen-time\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">negative effects<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of too much screen time \u2013 from depression to sleep deprivation to childhood obesity \u2013 so how can we teach our kids to use technology in healthy ways? Check out these simple tips to help your family build a healthy relationship with the technology we use every day.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Turn_off_screens_before_bedtime\"><\/span><b>Turn off screens before bedtime.<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Engaging in screen time right before bed can <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smrv-journal.com\/article\/S1087-0792(14)00081-1\/abstract\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">disrupt kids\u2019 bedtime routine<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and sleep cycles, cutting into time that kids should spend getting much-needed sleep. Gather up phones, tablets, and laptops an hour before bedtime to give your family a chance to disconnect and relax. If possible, consider keeping screens out of the bedroom altogether.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Encourage_productive_screen_time\"><\/span><b>Encourage productive screen time.<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Not all screen time is created equal \u2013 when setting limits on screen time, it\u2019s important to distinguish between <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/how-to-make-screen-time-productive\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">productive screen time<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (like for learning apps, video-chatting grandparents, or homework) and time that\u2019s spent playing games or watching videos. Promote screen time that lets your child learn a skill that\u2019s applicable in real life!<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i>\u201cWe\u2019re supportive of his [Tynker] screen time because he is creating, not just staring at a computer screen\u201d \u2013 Dana, <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/gavin-loves-coding-and-treasure-hunting\/\"><i>Featured Maker Gavin<\/i><\/a><i>\u2019s mom<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Let_them_earn_screen_time\"><\/span><b>Let them earn screen time.<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Show your child that chores come before screen time (and motivate them to complete said chores!) by letting them earn extra screen time. Bonus points if they used their earned screen time productively, like to code on Tynker.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i>\u201cOur deal is, because he likes it so much, we tell him, \u2018If you get yourself ready for the day, if your lunch is made, if your bed is made, you\u2019re dressed, ready for school, dishes are put away, you can have 20 minutes of Tynker before you get on the bus.\u2019\u201d \u2013 Heather, <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/zac-has-been-earning-tynker-time-every-day-for-three-years\/\"><i>Featured Maker Zac<\/i><\/a><i>\u2019s mom<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Emphasize_real-life_friendships\"><\/span><b>Emphasize real-life friendships.<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Remind your child that friends they meet online are not a replacement for real friends. Arrange playdates with classmates \u2013 we\u2019ve even seen kids get together to code with Tynker in a group! Try our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/try-this-6-step-brain-bootcamp-at-home\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6-Step Brain Bootcamp<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for a fun brain\/body activity circuit that your child and friends can do inside or outside.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i>\u201cWhat\u2019s really cool is that a lot of his friends at school enjoy Tynker. They\u2019ll sit around a little picnic table outside of their class and get together and start coding!\u201d \u2013 Mike, <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/blog\/future-astronaut-james\/\"><i>Featured Maker James<\/i><\/a><i>\u2019s dad<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lead_by_example\"><\/span><b>Lead by example.<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Last but not least, remember that the best way to reinforce healthy digital habits is to model them yourself. Show your kids how to engage in screen time in a way that doesn\u2019t interfere with their other interactions \u2013\u00a0limit time spent surfing through social feeds or turn off alerts when spending time with family and friends \u2013 so that they\u2019ll learn to do the same!<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>It&#8217;s easy to monitor your child&#8217;s screen time and coding mastery with your Tynker Parent Dashboard! Sign up for a Pro plan today to accelerate your child&#8217;s coding education as they engage in healthy, productive screen time.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"sf-button large accent standard \" href=\"https:\/\/www.tynker.com\/courses\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"text\">VIEW PRO PLANS<\/span><\/a>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>5 Tips for Healthy Screen Time Our kids are growing up as digital natives, and it\u2019s clear that screens are here to stay. Most of us have heard about the negative effects of too much screen time \u2013 from depression to sleep deprivation to childhood obesity \u2013 so how can we teach our kids to use technology in healthy ways? 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