By Emma 
It’s a constant struggle for all parents who want to make sure that their children aren’t addicted to gadgets. It’s easy for a child to spend all day in front of their phone or tablet computer.
Video games are also another concern, and children are spending an increasing amount of time playing them.
It seems no matter what you do; you’ve always got to fight against one gadget or another trying to guzzle your child’s time and attention span.
Here are some tips that every parent can put into practice to ensure that their child doesn’t spend too much time in front of the screen.
Make their bedroom a tech-free zone
That means your child isn’t allowed to play video games in their bedroom. There should be no computer in the bedroom to do homework on. Also, phones and tablets aren’t allowed in their bedroom, either.
It sounds a bit extreme, but somehow you’ve got to find a way to get in between your child and their electronic devices.
If your child has a laptop and they must get some peace and quiet to do some homework, then occasionally it might not be such a bad idea to allow them to use it in their bedroom. The laptop must go back to the living room or store it after the homework is finished.
Limit the amount of time they have to use electronics
No one is saying that electronic usage is bad or that it should be eliminated entirely. You do need to put restrictions on how much time electronics are allowed to be used.
For example, you might say that your teen is allowed to use their phone for twenty minutes after supper before they do their homework. If it’s a weekend, you can be more liberal with your time and say your child can use their tablet for an hour on Saturday.
If you allow your child to use the tablet all day long, they will. Limiting or disabling web browsers like Safari goes a long way.
Have tech-free times when they’re not allowed to use gadgets
There must be times when your child isn’t allowed to use gadgets. An example of the best tech-free times is right before bed and during meals.
No one should be allowed to look at a screen while they eat. That means phones, games, and the TV is all off-limits while you eat.
Sit there and talk like people have done since the beginning of time.
Provide alternative things for your child to do alongside with them
You spending time with your child and doing stuff with them is the perfect example of how to live without gadgets. What good does it do for you to crack down on their gadget use when you’re staring at the screen all day long?
Put down the phone and spend some time with your child. If you don’t give up electronics, your child won’t take you seriously. That’s the risk you take by saying one thing and doing another.
Electronics are tools and nothing else
The minute you allow an electronic device to be an escape, it becomes a drug. Addiction is real when it comes to electronics, and anyone who has struggled with it knows. You can guide your child and avoid a lifelong addiction by doing what’s right.
It’s not the easiest thing to do when children are spending all their free time on Facebook, but it’s something you have to do to provide your child with the guidance they need to become healthy adults.
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