How to Replace your Toddler's Screen Time

Follow A Routine

When children have a predictable structure, they respond much better to rules and regulations.

Put a fixed slot for screen time on your toddler’s daily schedule and stick to it. Use visual cues like the picture of a cell phone if your little one hasn’t learned to read yet. Once they come to understand that they’ll be getting their gadget per the routine, you’ll encounter a lot less whining for it at other times!

Take a look at this article to know more about the importance of routines for your kid:

https://thedatingmaven.com/grown-ups/family-life/routines-rituals-relationships/family-routines

Set A Time Limit

Setting time limits is a great way to manage screen time.

Explain when and how long your child can use a particular gadget. Using a timer with an alarm is effective with little kids who can’t tell time. When you have clear and consistent rules, it’s easy to avoid those daily tantrums when you tell your little one to turn off the TV, tablet, or phone.

How much is too much? This article advises you about screen time guidelines for your child:

https://thedatingmaven.com/en/parents/screentime-preschool.html

FUN ACTIVITIES TO REPLACE SCREEN TIME

So, we’ve been successful in getting our little tech enthusiasts away from their gadgets – now what to do with all that splendidly free time? Here are some fun activities that are guaranteed to make your toddler forget all about that tablet or cell phone!

Get Them Outdoors

One of the major drawbacks of screen time is that it leads to so much sedentary time. Get your little one outside!

Playing outdoors is an excellent way to boost your child’s mental and physical development. Running, jumping, climbing, and skipping engage muscles all over the body while promoting balance, strength, and development. If your toddler is playing with other children, it’s also mentally stimulating as they learn to share toys, take turns, and engage with others.

Check out this blog to know more about the benefits of outdoor play for kids:

https://thedatingmaven.com/blog/why-should-my-child-play-outside-benefits-of-outdoor-play-for-kids/?lang=can

Craft Fun

Kids love getting messy with glue and sticky paper, don’t they! And sometimes, messy is exactly what’s needed.

Keep a good stock of paper, crayons and other craft supplies to pull out and inspire your little artist. Paint, create colorful collages, make paper flowers, cut out colorful masks.You can even make cards for elderly relatives, essential workers or teachers!

Need some inspiration? Take a look at this article:

Family Game Night

Ditch the regular Friday night movie and plan a rocking family game night instead!

Get out your favorite board games or opt for the classics like dumb charades or I Spy. You can play dress-up, have a performance night, or set up a mini bowling alley in the living room. Games are a fantastic way to encourage your child’s language and social development, and practice various skills like counting, color recognition and hand-eye coordination. Plus we guarantee gales of laughter and oodles of fun!

Here are a list of family games that your toddler can participate in too:

https://thedatingmaven.com/home/entertaining/453349-25-family-games-even-toddlers-can-play/

Cook Up a Storm

Which child doesn’t love getting their little hands dirty in the kitchen, are we right?

Squidging dough, sprinkling herbs, cutting out cookies, stirring batter– there’s a world of culinary delight awaiting our little ones in there! Let your toddler mess around in the kitchen or even help you prepare dinner. Kids who love eating will be over the moon at having a hand in tossing up their own grub – and if you’re the parent of a picky eater, engaging your kid in preparing their own meal may help to curb some of their picky tendencies.

This article has some great recipe suggestions that your little one will adore:

Encourage Independent Play

We love activities – but we love our free time too, and so do our kiddos. Make sure you allow your little one some time for independent play!

Unstructured play time allows children to explore their imagination and the things around them, aiding in brain development, as well as improving dexterity, physical and cognitive abilities. So if you find yourself constantly running from activity to activity and your toddler is over-scheduled, cut back and add in some independent play.

Here are 5 great tips on getting your child to play independently:

https://thedatingmaven.com/kids/preschool/5-ways-to-get-your-kid-to-play-alone/

As parents, we know you always want the best for your child. And at this age, one of your major goals is to keep them from being constantly absorbed in their devices, and ensure that they follow age-appropriate screen time limits. Reduced screen time means a whole lot of time for a wide variety of activities, which is ideal for your child’s overall development.

At thedatingmaven, your best-loved trendy children’s clothing brand, we’re committed to supporting parents as they bring up happy, healthy and well-adjusted kids. So give our suggestions a try, and watch your toddler discover a whole new world beyond screens and gadgets!

Sending love from Be Kind blogs. Happy reading.