WHY I WILL NEVER LIMIT SCREENTIME
Image Credit: GBRLIFE LLC
In the new age of parenting...us parents continue to lose on how we are suppose to behave.
We are expected to feed, bathe, teach, etc.. all while removing screen time, making sure they don’t eat processed foods or to many carbs but don’t spend all your time cooking, spend time with our kids but helicopter them, entertain them but not to much, teach them but let them do it, make sure they are hitting milestones but don’t push them to make those milestones, etc..
Grandpa Reading to his Grandchildren (Image Credit: GBRLIFE LLC)
It’s all overwhelming impossible chaos because today, it’s rare to find that both parents don’t work. And mom’s if you’re working on your side business….that's not being a stay at home mom. that’s being a working mom. Don’t cut yourself short because everyone else thinks all you do is take care of your kids, do your making up and sleep all day. (yea i had a good laugh at that one too, we wish!)
So what does all of that have to do with screen time?
Image Credit: GBRLIFE LLC
Well in my house, I BANISH all of that. I literally just do not accept this crazy notion that society has placed upon us parents and I will not raise my kids that way.
Instead I do the research and I watch how my kids handle and react to things and then I go from there. in other words, I base it on my own kids and my own family. not just what 100 kids did in a science EXPERIMENT.
And what did I find out, well that tv is on all day and my kids even use kindles and switches for YouTube. And guess what? my kids are still growing completely normal. no speech delays, no issues with cognitive anything.
But I also don’t just use screens to entertain them. My home is full of toys, a backyard, books, and screens. so my kids have a ton to do and if I see they are interested in anything. I promote it. If I see they are falling behind, I work with them on it.
We don't sit down to watch TV together, when there is time, I take it to spend with my kids because the moment will be gone and I will have a ton more to do that will require for them to self entertain again since I'm only one person and they need me to be mom not playmate.
Image Credit: GBRLIFE LLC
Basically, I make time for my kids in my extremely busy life. because that's what we have to do, but if my kid eat macaroni and cheese today, with a side of some PJ Masks on tv but he was jumping on his trampoline for a long time today. I call it a win!
We don’t have to follow every little rule in our homes based on the way people think we should be raising our kids. it just won’t work! they change those rules and standards all the time. and honestly, as a kid, I was in front of that tv all of the time!
But, guess who loves to read and write!
And I still have a normal career in the technology industry along with a happy marriage and kids. so the fact that my parents didn’t spend time making sure I was completely happy every moment of the day because they had to work and take care of the house, pay bills, make sure meals were made…etc.. didn’t make me into anything but a self-sufficient human being. Who has basically no time to pee :)
So let the kid watch his/her favorite show already! You and I both know you did as a kid and you probably turned out just fine. Watch there will be another study in the next 10 years that says screen time is fine as long as it's educational.
