How to Manage Your Childs Screen Time
It seems as though there are programs available online for all ages, including children. Even though the TV shows and movies that they stream or the games that they play, might be age-appropriate, you still need to think about limiting the time that they are in front of a screen. Children being in front of a screen of any kind has become more of an issue for some parents since the beginning of the COVID pandemic as more children have had to take classes at home online or have been at home and wanted something to do to keep them busy. There are a few ways that you can begin limiting your child’s screen time while encouraging them to do other activities so that they are occupied instead of sitting inside the house bored. If there were rules about screen time set before COVID, then those rules need to be kept instead of being pushed aside as you don’t want to increase the time spent on a video game, on the computer, or in front of the television.
One way that you can begin managing your child’s screen time is by controlling the Wi-Fi access. Change the password on occasion without them knowing. You can also have them play games or play outside during the week before getting the password. There are also apps that you can download to help manage the home internet connection and that can set a time limit on the time spent online.
Wi-Fi Control
A Wi-Fi router that you control is an easy way for you to start limiting the amount of time your child spends on the screen. You get to choose the length of time the router is on and can pause the device when desired. You can create a schedule for when your child can be online and when they aren’t allowed to be online, which is a time when they could go outside or do something with the family. Another way to use the control is to limit the websites that your child can access. You can set the screen time to only include kid-friendly television shows, movies, and games so that they don’t visit sites that are questionable. Keep in mind that this kind of device doesn’t have to control everyone’s access in the home. It can be set to only control children so that they don’t spend as much time online. They can still use the internet to do school assignments when needed but not other activities online.
Accessories
Another option would be to keep the router that you have and get an accessory that gives you control over the internet. You’ll be able to monitor the sites that your child uses without getting a lot of new equipment to connect. Content can be blocked with this kind of accessory. You’ll usually need a subscription for a year or for a lifetime depending on how long you want the control to stay in place. Most subscriptions start at around $100 for a year.
Apps
If you don’t want to get a router or accessories, there are a few apps that you can use to block websites and limit time online. These apps allow you to block certain websites and limit the number of hours that your child is online during the week. Apps will usually work with most routers, but you would need to look at the one that you have before installing the app to make sure that it’s compatible.
