It's holiday time which means a full house and plenty
of temptation to zone out with your tablet or in front of the TV. Here’s how to
make sure your daughter stays engaged and actually gets something out of the
time she spends with her devices.
On a cold or snowy day, a day of Netflix or video games and
hot chocolate can seem like the most perfect activity in the whole world.
Still, there’s a lot of talk about how excessive amounts of screen time can be
detrimental to children. The truth is, though, that not all screen time is bad,
and in fact, it can be beneficial when done right!
“Screen time can have value—especially around the holidays,
because this time of year can be so over-stimulating,” says Girl Scouts’
Developmental Psychologist Dr. Andrea Bastiani Archibald. “And there are
definitely things you can do as a parent to ensure that her screen time is well
spent, and not just a filler.”
Follow these 5 tips and you’ll be set!
Watch Together and
Get Involved
Sit with your daughter when she watches her favorite shows
or movies, and ask her questions. Have no idea who certain characters are? Ask
her to explain their backstories! Better yet, ask her what she thinks will
happen next, or what she hopes will happen. The trick is to get her thinking
and talking. This helps both her cognitive skills and her social skills.
Go for Games
Video games get a bad rap as being mindless entertainment,
but playing a game that involves strategy is engaging her brain, making her
think, and possibly even teaching her something, depending on how educational
the game is. That’s why many experts say that game-based learning time is
better than time spent passively watching videos. If there’s a two-player option, all the better!
Challenge her to a game, or have her teach you how to play.
Create Some Tech-Free
Zones
We all love our phones, but it’s important that your family
spends time really connecting face-to-face over the holidays, too. Set aside
dinner time as a tech-free time.
Embrace Social Media
For adolescents today, social media plays an important role
in helping them form their self-identity, strong friendships, and communication
skills—especially when she’s away from her besties over break. You don't want
your daughter to be left out, but obviously you want to keep her safe, too. If
she’s on social media sites, make sure you know which ones, and talk to her
about what she does on them. Healthy spot checks to make sure all is okay on
her pages is a good idea, too.
Turn Off the Screens
Before Bed
The type of light that shines out of our phones, tablets,
and other devices messes with our sleep patterns, and actually has an even
greater effect on teenagers than on adults. Help your daughter get a good
night’s sleep by making sure all screen time is finished at least an hour
before bedtime.