Essential Screen Time for Babies: Tips for parents

 Essential Screen Time for Babies: Tips for Parents

Screen time is needed only for children, but it should have some boundaries. Potential screen time will improve children's physical, emotional, mental, and cognitive development. According to the American Academy of Paediatrics (APA), no screen time for babies below 18 months old and high-quality as well as essential screen time for babies 18-24 months old.

Here are some tips for parents on how we can provide essential screen time for our babies:

• We have to limit our screen time while interacting with them.

• We have to engage them through activities. We can provide sensory-based activities also. Example: play music, sensory play (sand play, water play, play dough, finger painting, foam play, etc.).

• Encouraging their cooing and babbling. And engage them in activities that will build bonding and interaction.

• The environment can be designed like a play area, without a screen.

• We can motivate them in outdoor games and small outings such as park visits like that.

• Screen time should be meaningful. After 18 months, content-based teaching concepts can be given. And we can make video calls with family members. As parents, we have to monitor them in screen time.

One more thing: we can give some alternative activities such as puzzles, building blocks, doctor sets/kitchen sets/tool sets, etc. Along with this, we have to encourage their creativity and imagination also.

These tips will be helpful to parents in providing essential screen time for their babies. This will help them in their healthy development.

As parents we have to strictly follow these screen time rules, and we have to follow them consistently.


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