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With today's requirements in the digital age Devices such as tablets, phones and computers are very easily accessible for children. It came to this situation. These devices, which are an integral part of life, reduce screen time This brought about the need to limit its use. technology, Although children's screen time offers unlimited opportunities for education and entertainment, management is one of the most difficult issues for parents. continues. Limits on the use of digital screens for children And it continues to be one of the most conflicting issues between families. about this With the uncertainty of the limits of screen use, technology affects the child's development. It ceases to be a supportive tool and causes physical and psychological problems. It can turn into an obstacle.
Success in children's academic lives To achieve this, they need to establish the right balance not only at school but also at home. It is essential. Controlling the time spent in front of the screen, It also directly affects focus time and learning capacity. this At this point, your child's study habits are directly related to screen addiction. is determined. How to maximize your child's screen time If you would like to get an evaluation, you can read about productive study techniques devoted to studying as well as moderate screen use. You can also check the efficiency.
Instead of completely restricting the child from technology, It is possible to understand the importance of establishing a healthy digital balance. In this context The steps to be taken regarding the correct evaluation of screen time are extremely important. It is important. In this guide, we describe the ideal screen times for children according to their age groups, Learn how to set family rules and create a healthy digital contract. We will examine the steps in detail.
Screen time, a It refers to the total time an individual spends in front of digital screens. smart digital devices such as phones, televisions, tablets, computers or game consoles. It is defined as the total time spent in front of all screens. However According to modern pedagogical approaches, we define screen time as just "duration". Evaluating it as such is an incomplete approach. The quality of the content and the child's screen Its role is as important as the duration itself. In this context, children's screen Screen time is divided into two parts: passive and active screen time:
When planning screen time for children, passive limiting consumption and turning technology into an active, productive tool should be the main target.
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to protect the physical and mental development of children It proposes certain standards according to age for this purpose. According to these standards, each Recommended specific times for screen use by children between ages There are. Ensuring children's screen monitoring in accordance with these periods It can be a guide for parents. An essential compass for parents These suggestions are as follows:
● 0 - 18 Months: It is recommended that babies not be exposed to the screen in any way during this period. Physical interaction, touch and interaction with the real world for babies' brain development Face to face communication is essential. The only exception is brief conversations with distant family members. These are video conversations.
● 18 - 24 Months: If there is access to the screen, it must be high quality, educational It should be with contents and parental accompaniment. The child is alone with the screen Instead of leaving it alone, it is necessary to talk to him about the content watched.
● 2 - 5 Years: Screen time for children in this age group is maximum 1 hour per day. should be limited to . Content should be educational, non-violent and age appropriate It is critical that it is.
● 6 - 12 Years: Instead of giving an exact time during primary and secondary school "digital balance" comes to the fore. Daily school, sleep (9-12 hours) and remaining time after physical activity (at least 1 hour) routines have been established Limits should be set for the slice. Generally, recreational screen time It is recommended not to exceed 2 hours a day.
● Ages 13 and Above: During adolescence, screen management requires more guidance and agreements. It should be carried out via . To gain media literacy and to help the screen sleep, the parent to ensure that it does not interfere with social relationships or academic success. is its primary duty.
By setting rules for children in screen use Moving forward will always be one of the healthiest methods. But for the child The communication language used when determining the rules determines the applicability of the rules. direct effects. A prohibitive, harsh and authoritarian attitude creates resistance and resistance in the child. may lead to clandestine use. Instead, it is more constructive and collaborative. One language should be preferred.
When setting rules for screen use in children The following may be noted:
● Use "I Language": "You're always in front of that tablet, your eyesight is going to go bad!" instead, "When you spend too much time in front of the tablet, it's bad for your health." I'm worried. "I think you should rest your eyes." shaped get closer.
● Offer Options: Instead of pulling the plug directly when it's time to shut down, 10 minutes left until it expires. You can save your game. Painting afterwards? "Would you like to read a book together?" Smooth the transition by saying.
● Be Consistent: Rules should not differ between mom and dad, everyone in the house “screen-free spaces” (e.g. for parents) dining table) should be determined.
One of the most concrete and fun ways to control screen time in children is to use it within the family. is to prepare a "Digital Contract". This contract is the child's rules It helps people internalize and take responsibility.
What Should Be in the Contract?
● Daily on weekdays and weekends screen times.
● Screen-free areas (Bedroom, dining table, hospitality).
● When the time is exceeded or the rules are violated Reasonable sanctions to be applied when non-compliance (e.g. next day's screen) deduction from the period).
● Content approval process (Which games can be downloaded, which applications can be used).
Removing the tablet or phone from the child's hand When you receive it, you need to fill that huge gap with qualified activities. must. Otherwise, boredom will quickly turn into anger. location of the screen It is essential to establish alternative routines that support development.
Especially in preschool and primary school Visual and physical materials are life-saving for children in it could be. printables that you can make together or find online daily routine chartsallow the child to gamify their day. thin cut and paste activities that improve motor skills and attention span, Coloring templates or brain teasers allow the child to step away from the screen and focus on a concrete object. It makes it easier for people to experience the joy of producing things. For older age groups board games, family nature walks, kitchen workshops or a Hobby courses (music, painting, sports) are strong alternatives.
The charm of the digital world is sometimes It can get out of control. Parents' symptoms of screen addiction must be alert about it. If your child has the following symptoms: If you observe the situation, intervene in the situation and get support from an expert if necessary. It may be time:
● Sleep Disorders: Desire to stay in front of the screen until late at night, difficulty falling asleep difficulty and waking up tired in the morning.
● Intense Anger and Deprivation: Extreme anger when screen time ends or device is taken away irritability, crying spells or aggressive attitudes.
● Social Isolation: Instead of playing outside with friends or attending family events Preferring to spend time alone in one's room with technological devices.
● Loss of Interest:Sudden loss of interest in sports, arts or hobbies that he/she used to enjoy. losing interest.
Very popular among young people Instagram loses track of time thanks to its infinite scroll feature. It can make you forget what happened. To balance your child's Instagram use You can benefit from the built-in tools offered by the platform:
● Setting a Daily Limit: From the "Your Activity" section of Instagram You can set a daily time limit. When the time you set is reached The application sends an alert.
● Break Reminders: You can use the "Take a Break" feature by agreeing with your child. You can activate it. For example, a full-screen reminder every 30 minutes He tells him to go out and rest his eyes.
● Muting Notifications: Thanks to the "Quiet Mode" feature, especially during lectures Pay attention by stopping notifications while working or sleeping You can prevent mess.
Draws attention quickly with short video format TikTok, which attracts attention, especially because it triggers the dopamine cycle. It is one of the most difficult channels to control. Safety and time on TikTok You can follow these steps to ensure management:
● Family Pairing: By matching your own TikTok account with your child's account, You can perform remote controls without touching the device. Thanks to this feature You can determine the daily screen time and when it is up, you can close the application without entering a password. You can prevent it from opening.
● Bedtime Notifications: All incoming notifications from the app after a certain time (for example, 21:00) By automatically turning off push notifications, the child's sleep You can maintain order.
● Restricted Mode: Screen time settings as well as age-inappropriate content enable Restricted Mode for filtering
Phone use affects children's health the most through sleep. Blue light emitted from screens, It suppresses the brain's secretion of melatonin, the sleep hormone. brain daytime He tries to stay awake, thinking that he is. This prolongs the time it takes to fall asleep and reduces sleep quality. For a healthy development, at least one and a half hours before bedtime saying goodbye to all digital screens and not allowing phones in the bedroom It is of great importance.
Digital detox can initially create a feeling of great deprivation for the child, so Outbursts of anger are normal. Process suddenly "ban everything" Instead, you should manage it by gradually reducing it. Take the child's anger personally Don't take it seriously, stay calm and say to him, "I understand that you are very upset right now. But we set this rule for your health," he said, stating that the limit was clear. make you feel Be sure to fill that gap with a physical activity that he or she likes.
What is Screen Time? Screen Time
for Recommendations according to age Making Rules
Language (Parents) Screen Time
for Digital Contract Alternative
Creating a routine Screen time
Alarm signs for Instagram
What to do for screen time? Tiktok screen
What to do for the duration? Frequently Asked Questions
Questions
