Balancing Screen Time for Kids: Strategies and Tips Ep. 28

Educating Kids & Connecting Families with Christine Furman

Welcome to Episode 28 of "Educating Kids and Connecting Families" with Christine Furman. This episode tackles the ever-relevant topic of managing children's screen time in today's digital age. Christine provides thoughtful strategies to balance screen exposure with educational and recreational activities, ensuring a healthy and productive environment for children of different age groups.

In this episode, Christine shares her personal journey of setting screen time boundaries for her children, emphasizing the importance of intentional screen time. She discusses the impact of overstimulation on children's behavior and offers practical solutions for managing screen activities, especially during the summer. Christine encourages forming family-specific rules for screen use, focusing on approved shows, educational content, and time limits. Join the "Educating Kids and Connecting Families" Facebook group for more conversations and tips on managing screen time effectively.

Quotes from today’s episode:

• “It's easy to let them stay on their screens for an extended period of time because one, let's face it, they're quiet. And two, we can get things done."
• "It's just letting our kids know that we are in control of the tv, we are in control of what they are watching, and what they are absorbing."
• "My goal is to stimulate them, stimulate their brain in a way that is going to cause them to learn something, and they're going to take something away from it."
• "Talk about screens in your home and what does that look like for your family?"
• "Ultimately my goal is to allow it to be intentional screen time, allow it to be educational, really be providing our kids with skills that are going to help them in the long run.”

Takeaways:

• Intentional Screen Use: Importance of curating educational and age-appropriate content for children, ensuring screen time is both engaging and beneficial.
• Behavioral Observations: Recognizing signs of overstimulation and linking them to screen time to make informed decisions about usage.
• Setting Boundaries: Establishing rules for screen use, including approved content, time limits, and prerequisites like chores and educational tasks.
• Incorporating Technology Positively: Encouraging children to utilize technology creatively, such as recording videos or participating in educational activities.
• Flexible Approaches: Adapting screen time management strategies to fit different schedules and family dynamics, balancing other activities and learning opportunities.

Thanks for listening! Let’s get connected!

Join the Exclusive Facebook group - Educating Kids & Connecting Families to connect with Christine, access valuable resources, and connect with moms from all over the world. https://www.facebook.com/groups/educatingkidsconnectingfamilies/

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