Are Your Children Addicted To Electronics?

Guest Post

are your children addicted to electronics?

It is not uncommon to see a toddler or child with a tablet or some kind of electronic device entertaining them. You see it at dinner, in the store and even in your own homes but how much is too much? It is not terribly wrong to let your kid play some games or have some fun on a tablet, and if the app is even educational then it might be worth their time and your time.

There are some steps you need to take and restrictions that you need to set so your child does not get addicted to video games or other electronics. Your child has all the potential in the world and so much of it depends on what you allow them to do and develop in their childhood. Here are some tips that you can follow that will help you manage your kid’s time on video games or other electronics.

Set Time Limits

This is the most basic step of them all and can make the most difference. If you only allow your child to play on the tablet for 30 minutes to an hour a day then they will not depend on that for their entertainment all day. If this is something you want to do then you need to make sure you still to that time limit so they know that they only get a certain amount of time. You can even make this a incentive like “If you do me this favor I’ll let you play for an extra 30 minutes today!”

Make It a Reward

Instead of just handing your kid their tablet every day, you can make them earn it or work for it. For instance you can give it to them only after all their chores or homework is done. Then they would learn how to prioritize what is important in their life and what is not. If they know at an early age that homework is more important than angry birds, it could help adapt into a healthy habit that could get them through college.

Change the Wi-Fi Password Daily

This is a great idea for families with teenagers or older kids who have smartphones on all the time. You can change the password daily so they have to get their more pressing things done first. Then once all their chores are done they can get the password from you and then they can go about their day playing on their devices, and you don’t have to worry about their homework or a dirty house.

Talk To Them

The most important and effective way of making sure your kids are not too addicted to video games is by just flat out talking to them. Make sure they know the importance of reading, going outside and getting active. Kids are smarter than most people give them credit and if they are treated right and respected then you will be surprised by what you might see. However, you have to remember that they are still kids and they need a lot of help figuring things out and getting ready for those big challenging moments in their lives.

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Author Bio

Annabelle Smyth

Annabelle is currently a loving and caring mother of two children. She lives outside of Milwaukee, WI and loves cheering for the Bucks and Badgers. She is a blog enthusiast and loves writing, if she is not writing she is cleaning up after her two lovely angels.

21 Comments

  1. I wouldn’t say my kids are addicted. They certainly use electronic devices more than I did as a kid, but at the same time, if given the option they would choose playing outside in our backyard over playing on an iPad. And for that, I am so incredibly thankful.

  2. I think a lot of kids are these days. My boys will be if I let them, but if I tell them to get off, they really find a way to go out and enjoy themselves outside. We went on a 50 day trip this summer and there were mostly no electronics, and they all survived. 🙂

  3. I like the idea of making it a reward. We basically have to hide our ipad sometimes because the kids want to play it ALL the time.

  4. This is great info. I see so many teens and young adults who are addicted to video games. I thing what a lot of parents don’t realize is that those habits are developed very early on.

    1. Author

      Kelly, I am addicted to my iPhone, iPad, and or laptop. I am using one or the other of them on a regular basis most every day. My husband and I both make our living from technology and our son has picked this up from an early age as well. We do try to limit his use during the school year, but have been more lax during the summer. However, he does go to the pool a lot, plays with friends outside, and is rehearsing 5 days a week for an upcoming play at our local children’s theatre. It’s a balancing act.

  5. M can only play iPad games or watch TV for a half hour a day. Too much technology has taken over our everyday lives.

  6. I could see how kids could easily become addicted to electronics.

  7. Mine are not there “Yet” but both my husb and I have talked about how in the future we have to set limits and make them understand why.
    Great tips.

  8. Mine was just messing around with my cell phone before playing a little iPad before bed, but we were out for most of the evening.

  9. My kids have gotten addicted over the summer … so much so that we are implementing a new policy tomorrow (that will carry over into the school year. NO TV until chores/homework are completed for the day. Hoping that helps us all get back into the TV is a treat mindset (as opposed to seeing it as a mandatory part of our day!).

  10. Mon son is totally addicted to electronics, especially the television and video games. We recently had to put him on a schedule because he won’t get off, unless we ask. So, we limited him to one hour per day, and two if he’s done all of chores and homework!

  11. My son was getting a little too upset when iPad time was over for a little while so we had to really break that habit. He’s awesome with it now though.

  12. I have to admit that Nick plays with my tablet a lot, but at the same time he would happily put it down if I asked him if he wanted to go outside and play. He has gone through a few stages when he got a little too obsessed with it and we had to hide it for a few days, but that doesn’t happen too often.

  13. Time limits are the BEST. If I didn’t have them my tweens would play nonstop!

  14. All of these tips are great and I especially agree with setting time limits.

  15. My daughter spends A LOT of time on her computer playing video games – however it’s hard to not let her since that’s what she wants to do for a career (video game designer)…

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