Since watching too much television causes harms such as vision problems, obesity, physical inactivity, missing out on exciting games, etc. for children, parents must get their children used to and encourage them to watch less television.
To do this, you can use the following strategies:
1. Have specific rules for watching TV: For example, ban watching TV at home while eating meals and doing school homework. Eating in front of the TV is a very bad habit that makes your children dependent on this magic box.
2. It is recommended that kids do not watch TV for more than two to three hours a day, but you can show a little flexibility and increase this amount for holidays and weekends.
3. If your child’s performance at school has declined, you can reduce their TV viewing hours so that they can pay more attention to their homework and improve their performance.
4. Do not let your child sit in front of the TV until they have finished their homework and, for example, the household chores you have assigned to them: But since passive behavior and excessive authority can be damaging in another way, you can reassure your child that you will record their favorite show so they don’t have to worry about missing it if they finish their chores later.
5. To entertain your children instead of constantly seating them in front of the TV, keep them busy with something: For example, when making dinner, ask your child to help you. Even young children can, for example, chop cucumbers with a not-so-sharp knife, set the table, or prepare spoons and forks. Most children enjoy doing these kinds of tasks.
6. Prioritize talking to your child: Sometimes turn off the television and start talking to each other about various issues. This fosters and enhances conversational skills in your child and also greatly improves the parent-child relationship. In this case, the doors of interaction between you and your child will open, and you will be able to solve problems much more easily together.
7. Read books to your child: Your child needs to know that there are many entertaining things to do in this world other than watching TV shows. You can start reading books to your child from the age of one (for more information, refer to other articles on the site). Of course, once your child learns to read and write, encourage them to read their books to you instead of you reading to them.
8. Never turn watching TV into a tool for reward or punishment: By doing this, you actually unintentionally give too much value to the television and indirectly teach your child that this activity is extremely important.
9. Encourage your child to do sports, play, various activities, or learn music: In this case, your child will automatically have less time to spend in front of the magic box inside the house.
10. Strictly avoid placing a television inside your child’s bedroom: By doing this, you will not have control over the amount of your child’s viewing. This will also cause disruptions in the child’s sleep and poor performance at school.