6 ways to get your child off the screen by Bianca Slade

Around half of primary school children and three-quarters of secondary school children spend two or more hours per day on their screens
(Yu & Baxter, 2015. Accessed from: http://data.growingupinaustralia.gov.au/pubs/asr/2015/asr2015e.html). Blackmores Superkids Cook Bianca Slade (aka. Wholefood Simply) shares her solutions to help your kids switch off.

Join a sporting club

Research shows that children who are involved in after-school or extra-curricular activities are less likely to spend more than two hours a day on electronic devices or in front of the television (Yu & Baxter, 2015. Accessed from: http://data.growingupinaustralia.gov.au/pubs/asr/2015/asr2015e.html).

School and team sports are ideal, as it can help improve your child’s concentration, memory and greater self-confidence[i]. And of course, spending time exercising, training, and competing means time away from screens, and improved physical wellbeing.

Introduce a game night

No, not a game played on a screen, but old-fashioned board games. After sitting down together to have a family dinner bring out an old favourite, separate into teams and let the competition begin! Board games can help children get along with others, learn to lose graciously and improve their cognitive learning capacity.

Follow up online information outside

If your child has been watching shows about dinosaurs, or oceanic adventures, then continue their thirst for knowledge with real-life adventures. Head to a museum or aquatic centre to learn first-hand about the wonders of the world.

Set an example

Children learn from their parents, so if your own screen time is hovering on the heavy side, perhaps it’s time you too put the device away. Set a time limit, or ‘curfew’ for devices, and stick to it.

Play to earn screen time

It’s recommended that children do at least 60 minutes of exercise every day.[ii] A good way to encourage this is to exchange every minute of activity with the same amount of screen time. The more your child plays, jumps, runs or swims, means equal time online. Plus, research estimates the more children exercise the less likely they are to reach for a device in their down time, so it’s a win-win (Yu & Baxter, 2015. Accessed from: http://data.growingupinaustralia.gov.au/pubs/asr/2015/asr2015e.html).

To help support my kids strong and healthy bones, I like to give them Blackmores Superkids® Growing Bones Gummies, which also helps contribute to normal muscle function in kids. I don’t have to worry about added sugar because the range is 99% sugar free and naturally delicious – so my kids love them too!

Plan some family sports or adventures

Whether it’s a bike ride, hike, walk in a park or on the beach, or a family game of soccer, group activities not only get your children away from screens, but will form better family bonds, enabling your children to communicate more easily with you, and even improve their school results.

Stuck on a decision? Write down on small pieces of paper an activity each member of the family would like to do. On the weekend, or after school, each family member takes it in turn to choose an adventure. Let your children’s imagination run wild and enjoy every moment.

For more information, recipes and activities to help grow your Little Well Being’s full potential, visit www.blackmores.com.au/superkids.

Speak to your healthcare practitioner if symptoms persist. Always read the label. Use only as directed. Supplements may only be of assistance if dietary intake is inadequate.

ABOUT BIANCA SLADE

Bianca Slade is a mum of three (aged 10, 6, and 2), a recipe creator and owner of healthy cook blog site, Wholefood Simply. Bianca is passionate about creating whole foods that the entire family can enjoy, as well as recreating traditional treats and sweets to suit her family’s whole food ways. Bianca has published 10 cookbooks under the Wholefood Simply umbrella, including her most recent book Wholefood Simply: Natural Indulgence. Bianca has teamed up with Blackmores as their Superkids Cook.