Families For Life | Introducing digital devices to young children
With the growing presence of digital media, children today are more exposed to devices such as phones and tablets. Naturally, many parents may start to wonder: when is the right time to introduce these devices to kids?
Digital devices have become part of everyday life, even for the little ones. At times, they can serve as powerful educational tools, though in other instances, they can become distractions. Therefore, finding a healthy balance is important. Here’s how to do it!
Babies under 18 months: Focus on Interactions
Infancy is a critical period for brain development, with rapid and significant growth taking place. Introducing screen time during this stage is generally not recommended as it may hinder healthy cognitive development. Instead, it’s best to let babies focus on engaging with the natural and physical world around them. This supports the overall quality of interaction your child can have with others.
Toddlers and Preschoolers (18 months–6 years): Start gently and intentionally
Gently introducing meaningful screen time can benefit children in this age group, if done right. Limit it to under an hour to ensure children have ample time for essential activities like play, rest, and social interactions.
Digital devices shouldn’t be used mainly as a distraction. Instead, choose age-appropriate and educational content that supports your child’s development, like positive character-building, speech, literacy, and number sense. Turn it into a family activity where you interact with the content together! This helps to strengthen bonds and encourage active engagement.
Primary School Children (7–12 years): Teach balance and responsibility
At this age, children are exposed to a variety of media and tend to use their devices more independently. So, it’s important to ensure the content they are consuming is age-appropriate and safe. Apart from adjusting the parental control settings, have regular conversations about their online activities. This can help steer them in the right direction as they navigate the digital world.
Help your children understand why screen time needs limits and guide them towards making mindful choices. For example, you can encourage them to pick up a mind-stimulating activity such as reading, drawing, or biking, before they use a device. This not only helps them see screen time as only a small part of their day, but also teaches them how to create a healthy and diverse routine.
Screen time isn’t just about limits, it’s about creating positive and meaningful habits. By promoting balanced screen use, consistent boundaries, and focusing on quality family time, we can help our kids keep up with today’s innovative and digitalised world while fostering healthy relationships with technology.
Resources:
https://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/parent-hub/baby-toddler/screen-use