As concerns grow about the impact of excessive screen time on children, experts emphasize the essential role parents play in modeling healthy behaviors. Ngui, a child development specialist, asserts that habits are not formed overnight and urges parents to reflect on their own screen use. Parents should consider what they want for themselves and their children as they navigate the complexities of digital engagement in today’s society.
Ngui emphasizes the importance of parental involvement in creating interactive learning experiences. When parents help them actively participate in their children’s activities, they are doing the most to provide guidance and support that deepens and enriches learning. Furthermore, Nordinah Mohd Kassim, an educational psychologist, stresses the importance of establishing clear digital rules that align with family values.
Parents have to establish firm limits,” Ngui says, indicating families should establish screens-free rooms or places, like the dinner table, to make areas no screen allowed. This practice sets the stage for deeper conversations at the dinner table and creates lasting connections within families.
“These include setting rules and boundaries, like designating the dining table as a no-screen zone, no screens before bedtime and reserving a weekend morning for family activities, like breakfast or exercise, no device included,” Ngui adds.
She and Westerman both emphasize the same principle—that parents need to be active participants in their children’s lives. Nordinah stresses that simply being present means more than just being physically there. It means getting down to children’s level when speaking with them and participating in their play. “Being present doesn’t mean being in the same house as your child. It means actually being present in conversations when your child talks, playing with them and really listening to them,” she explains.
Ngui describes a phenomenon known as “phubbing,” or when parents ignore their children to check their phones. With a few unintended cues, we can start sending the message to children that screen time is more important than their relationships. “If we want to reduce the screen time of our children, then they mustn’t see us glued to the phone all the time,” Nordinah advises.
These experts emphasize how important it is to make clear, detailed guidelines about screen time. “They should not give kids free rein on what they watch and how long they are on a device,” Ngui warns. He argues for a parental control that comes from knowledge. This is particularly key for littles, who might not understand the long-term effects of their screen use.
“Parental control has to come from the outside in, especially with younger kids who don’t know what’s good for them,” Ngui adds. With digital devices at the center of learning, parents have the opportunity to make them valuable assets. In doing so, they contribute to an atmosphere that encourages development and learning.
Nordinah points out, there are obstacles to realizing these ambitious aims. “This is not easy and requires a mindful shift… but it’s necessary,” she says. Parents must develop a plan to integrate these changes into their daily lives while remaining adaptable to their children’s needs.
Ngui speaks to the importance of modeling appropriate behaviors for children. “Children learn based on what they see, not what they are asked to do, so it is imperative that parents themselves set a healthy example when it comes to screen time.” By showing restraint in their own device usage, parents can reinforce the values they wish to instill in their children.
The discussion of screen time shouldn’t just focus on limitations, but shifting the conversation to life skills development that empowers kids. “I think life skills are very important to teach early on,” Nordinah says. “They empower kids and teach responsibility. But these are kids and they are still learning, so parents have to let them make mistakes.
Ultimately, establishing a healthy relationship with screen time requires both parents and children to engage actively in discussions about technology use. The beauty of interactive learning is that it strengthens the bond between parent and child. Ngui asserts that “visual information can be engaging, but it should be complemented with parental presence to explain, converse and interact with the child.”
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