7 tips for responsible screen use

TIP 1: RULES ARE PART OF IT
Children need rules and boundaries. From an early age, children learn that there are all kinds of rules.
For example, there are agreements about bedtime and pocket money. So it makes sense to have rules for screen use and screen time too. Agree on where and when screens are and are not allowed. Think of smartphones at the dinner table or in bed. You can also agree on how long screens may be used. Explain why you think these rules are important and give your child room to respond. That way you also know whether your child understands the rule. Once your child is a bit older, you can draw up the rules together. With Mytimingcards you make agreements with your child about screen use in a fun and easy way.

TIP 2: STAY REALISTIC
Set rules your child can easily stick to. Children who get used to screen rules early on find them easier to follow later. Remember that banning screens completely is pointless. After all, your child also comes into contact with online activities elsewhere. At school, for example, screens in the form of computers and tablets play an ever larger role.

TIP 3: NOT BEFORE BEDTIME
Preferably no TV, tablet or phone shortly before bedtime. Research shows time and again that the blue light from screens makes you sleep less and more restlessly. That goes for you as well as for your child, by the way. A bedtime routine of brushing teeth, saying goodnight to everyone and reading a book together is better than one more game on mum’s phone.

TIP 4: CHECK THE SCREEN TIME GUIDELINES
Do you find it hard to make good agreements about your child’s screen time? Take inspiration from the Dutch national guidelines:
0-2 years: if at all, a few times a week together, no more than 5 minutes at a time.
2-4 years: 5 to 10 minutes at a time, no more than 30 minutes a day.
4-6 years: 10 to 15 minutes at a time, no more than 1 hour a day.
6-8 years: 30 minutes at a time, no more than 1 hour a day.
8-10 years: no more than 1 to 1.5 hours a day.
10-12 years: no more than 2 hours a day.
12 years and older: no more than 3 hours a day.

TIP 5: GET INSIGHT INTO YOUR CHILD’S MEDIA USE
Talk to your child and keep an eye on what they do across the different media. Check whether the content is suitable for your child’s age. A good tool for this is kijkwijzer.nl (the Dutch age rating system, similar to PEGI). It indicates whether the content of a film, game or TV programme is suitable for a child’s age. Or simply watch or play along with your child now and then. That gives you a better picture of the content your child is exposed to through the different media.

TIP 6: BE AWARE OF YOUR OWN MEDIA USE
Children copy their parents’ behaviour. So if your phone is lying next to your plate during dinner, your child will think it is normal to check your phone all the time. Be aware of your own media use and set a good example.

Tip 7: WATCH ALONG SOMETIMES
Don’t be afraid to play a game now and then, or to watch the vlogs your child is so excited about. That way you experience for yourself why your child enjoys it so much, and you also gain good insight into what is going on in your child’s head.

Finally
Make being offline fun and attractive for your child too. Do something fun together and simply leave your own phone at home. That way you set a good example straight away.
Have fun together, online and offline!