How to Get Kids to Put Down the Screens and Spend More Time Outside

Are you concerned with how much screen time your children are receiving? Do they seem glued to their screens? To get your children outside more, this article will be helpful for you. We will address the subject of how to get kids to put down the screens and spend more time outside.

You First Need to be an Example to Your Kids

There is no point in nagging your kids to set aside their screens and to get outside if you yourself are not spending time outside. Kids pay attention to what their guardians do more often than many would think. For this reason, try spending more time outside to set a good example to your children. If kids see guardians being active outside, they will be more willing to put down their screens to spend more time outside as well.

Be Positive in Your Approach

When you do not like how much time your children are spending on electronics, be careful how you respond to fix it. You should not confiscate devices as a punishment or give them back as rewards; this will only lead to them using it more when they get it back. If you suggest to your kids that they can have screen time if they go outside, this will likely give your kids the idea that being outside is not as great as spending time on their screens. This type of approach does not help your children. A positive way for children to learn how to use screen time is to present it as one of the various enjoyable activities to participate in through daily life. Make other activities such as outdoor time equally as fun to help kids have more motivation to go outside.

Create a Schedule that You Can Realistically Keep Up With

Have a discussion with your kids on the acceptable boundaries attached with screen time. This will help children understand the moments it is ok to be on electronics and the moments to refrain from using electronics. You can ask them what they like the most in regard to what they watch and do on their screens. You can also ask them if there are particular times of the day that they prefer to play games or watch programmes. To get your child involved in the discussion, work with them to decide what times to stay off electronics. Once you come to a consensus, mark the times on the schedule that the kids should not access their screens. This can be customized to your family’s schedule but some examples are when the kids must complete homework, when there is company, when there are chores, or during meal times. During these technology breaks, you should allot on the schedule other activities for the kids to enjoy. This will help your kids to be more active and enable your kids to understand how to make decisions that are valuable. When you create this schedule with your kids, they will sense that they are part of the plan and it will make going outside more appealing to them than simply being demanded to go.

Suggest that Kids Participate in Things That They Like To Do

When it is time for the kids to be outside, being physically active will be so much more thrilling if the kids participate in something that they like. That could be skiing, playing tag, skateboarding, or going for a bike ride. Some enjoyable activities could involve climbing trees, going for a long walk, playing on play equipment, tossing a ball, flying a kite, jumping a rope, etc. This type of approach will strongly aid your kids in the development of a positive outlook in regard to exercise. They will likely desire to be physically active as a normal part of their daily life.

Interact With Your Kids Outside

You should be willing to pull yourself away from your phone and get involved in the outdoor activities with your kids. This will be a powerful way to bond with your kids. In addition, this forms memories for your kids that will last their whole lives. This is also a wonderful way to motivate the whole family to be more active.

When you apply these tips, you will be able to motivate your kids to give up their screens for a while to enjoy some time outside. There are many benefits for kids to be active outside. They will become more creative and they will increase their confidence. When kids are physically active, they will become more responsible, decrease stress, and help the kids to want to continue to desire to be active. When kids are more active outside, this impacts their mental health as well as their physical health in a positive manner. At The Learning Experience in East Finchley, you will find that they exceed the recommended physical fitness guidelines from toddlers and up. Please check out The Learning Experience for more information.

The Learning Experience – East Finchley Day Nursery and Preschool
250 East End Rd
London N2 8AU
020-8444-2638
https://thelearningexperience.co.uk/center/east-finchley/