How do you wean your kindergartener off his tablet? Instead of banning it outright, gradually replace it with fun, non-tech activities, DR RICHARD C. WOOLFSON suggests.
Age by stage 5-6 years
How do you wean your kindergartener off his tablet? Instead of banning it outright, gradually replace it with fun, non-tech activities, DR RICHARD C. WOOLFSON suggests.
You know that a tablet is an essential part of your child’s learning, but you are so fed up with him being glued to it from morning till night. You’d much rather get him interested in those oldfashioned basics like books, board games and construction bricks. Yet the minute you suggest such alternatives, he complains they are boring. Try these 10 ways to break his digital addiction:
Recognise the positives Your six-year-old learns a great deal through the use of digital media, both at school and at home. Or course, there are less-important uses of digital devices that are not part of his education, but iPads, laptops and computers are central aids to his understanding.
Clarify your concerns What exactly troubles you about his addiction? For example, maybe you are concerned he doesn’t mix enough with his pals, or perhaps you are worried that he plays the same game over and over again. Once you have identified your specific concern, think of an alternative.
Chat with him Explain that you are worried about the amount of time he spends with it at home, and that while you know it is important for learning, you want him to spend more time doing other things at home. Tell him you that your mind is made up.
Listen to his objections Let him list you all the reasons why he doesn’t want to change his habits – for example, he’ll be bored, he’ll not keep up with the latest news, his friends will find him dull, and so on. Reassure him that he doesn’t need to worry and that his life will be even more interesting than before.
Agree on a reduction Discuss it with your kid until you both agree on how many hours he should have it for – for instance, that he plays with it for only one hour after school instead of his usual two hours. He’s more likely to cooperate with a gradual reduction rather than a total withdrawal.
Suggest alternatives Having drawn his attention away, you should provide replacement activities to keep him busy. These could be toys or games that you think would be of specific interest, or playing with a friend, or even just sitting quietly while he reads a book. He needs your recommendations.
Get involved At least in the early days, help Junior adapt to this change in the way he uses his time by engaging with him. For instance, you can play a game, read or prepare a snack together. Your involvement makes those alternatives more fun and increases his commitment to them.
Arrange more outings Use the extra time to go out more, if possible. A short visit to the local park, or a quick trip to the library, will keep him busy. And perhaps he will be surprised to discover he actually enjoys these shared events with you.
Give lots of encouragement Praise your kid for his effort in breaking his attachment. Explain to him that you know this is not easy for him and that you appreciate how hard he is trying. Point out the benefits – for example, that he seems less tired in the evenings and that he smiles a lot more than he did before.
Continue to slowly reduce his screen time Once he is used to doing things other than simply reaching for his tablet the moment he arrives home from school, very slowly reduce his usage even further. You could start be allowing him a few minutes less than last week. He’ll adapt better to gradual reductions.
Help him adapt to this change by engaging him in a game, book or task together. Your involvement makes it more fun and increases his commitment to them.
