With kids out of school for the summer they might be spending more time in front of screens than usual.   Most parents put screen time in the “Only in Moderation” category (along with junk food and sun exposure) but it can be hard to establish the boundaries when screens are everywhere.

Most kids today always have a screen within arm’s reach. It’s easy to find them parked in front of a TV, tablet or smartphone while busy parents work to finish projects or make dinner. It’s not always easy to find the right balance, but these tips might help:

Determine quality media – Establish your own boundaries for what is quality media. If your child spends 30 minutes FaceTiming with grandma is it the same value as time spent on their favorite cartoon program?

Create a schedule – Schedules for screen time tend to be most successful when their built around other activities.  Instead of saying screen time is from 2-4 pm. Try leading with “After all your chores are done” or “after 20 minutes of reading”. It is still suggested to limit the total amount of screen time to no more than 2 hours per day for children over the age of 2.

Make Screen-free Zones – Encourage conversation and face-to-face zones where screens are not allowed, like the dinner table or kitchen.

Lead by example – We’re all guilty of spending our downtime scrolling through Pinterest, Facebook and even blogs. Remember to lead by example and limit your own screen time.

For more ways to engage your kids in face-to-face activities contact your local CHS.

Christine Stephens, Early Head Start Program Director