Happy Screening!!!

“Oh my God! Please someone suggest a solution to reduce my kids screening time!!”. I guess it is the first priority call for most of the parents out there in these pandemic days than Corona Vaccine.

It is usual that kids are used to these kinda holidays every sunmer but this time something is unusual because we are restricting socialization for them. So same mom and same dad! Same routine! “This year vacation is gone for me!” thought, all put together is giving them frustration, boredom and emptiness and pushing them to stay in couch glued to gadgets all day forgetting their basic routines skipping on time sleep, food blah blah blah and stick to mobile or television screening. They even make us to sympathise, “What will they do other than watching TV?” and we allow them continue to do whatever they want forgetting one very important thing. Habit! 

Yes! Experts say what we practice for 21 days regularly will become a habit and it is something proven. So I think this is the high time we wake up and do something about reducing the screen time or choosing to what they see in mobile or television.

A recent research conducted by the Americans that it seems a kid before begins its Pre KG finishes its 5000 hours of screening time. This is equivalent to three years of its college graduation. Imagine, by the time they finish their college, what will be their screening time?

On contradictory stopping them totally from screening is also not advisable as they might get 'out-of-the-crowd' feeling and this might end up stop socializing as they might miss out on the current trends and happenings causing social-distancing ever. Instead limiting the screening time and sit with them watching along there by influencing what they choose to see could be the ideal option as loads of information is available on internet and television too.

How do I do that? Introducing different genres in screening like travelogues, art and science that says how things are made etc., where conversations are involved that triggers the kid’s mind to ask questions. 

Go for that instead of entertainments and web series all the time. These days there are many informative animated series which teaches values with good vocabulary. Most important thing parents need to ensure is that they choose to watch contents screened in its original language. Animated episodes or wild-life series dubbed in other regional language is not going to develop any communication skills to them be it any language though they get information. Even they will practice their regional language wrong when they happen to watch translated feeds says research analysts and there are chances for the contents getting mislead

“My kid if I recommend informative web series or documentaries to watch, he is not cooperating” is the thought running in most of your minds. I know. I get it! 

But think! Are you a person who likes to watch the channel you are recommending? For example, if your husband recommends to watch soccer to his son and asks you to accompany your child along and joins office calls. But you are not a sports type. Though your son likes soccer, do you think the screening time will be productive and efficient? It is an obsolete big NO. Exactly, the interests of the person who accompanies the screening time with the kid is directly proportional to the new learning of your kid. So we play a vital role everywhere. When we change, our kids change:)

Pediatricians and Psychologists say kids below 13 years of age, particularly till 6 years of age if the screening time is restricted to 0 to 2 hours the IQ of the kids increases.Why? Because their brain develops very fast and they register everything they see quickly and it stays forever. 

You can see your child dancing to its favorite song exactly the same way the artists do in movies. We will feel proud and we keep encouraging. Nothing wrong in it! He might end up a good dancer. I agree! But we waste lots of their energy in just learning from the entertainment when there is ocean of information available in other fields also. It is our responsibility to introduce it and tap it for them to handle the world in a better way in the future! 

Do connections in real life from what they already saw. Teach life skills and values through TV and smart phones by choosing the desired contents. Technology is our friend when we use it in a right way. When we use it properly they learn it from us and turn it as a productive invention. Other wise how TV was called as an IDIOT-BOX by intellects then, days are not far to call smart phones as IDIOT-BOX mini now.

Wake-up! Stop complaining your kid! You take the responsibility and make it effective!

Happy screening!