A Is For Addiction

Is your preschooler always playing on the tablet or smartphone? Wean him off them using these strategies.

- Dr Richard C. Woolfson

You know that a tablet is an essential part of your child’s learning, but you are so fed up with him being glued to it from morning till night.

You’d much rather get him interested in those old-fashioned basics like books, board games and construction bricks. Yet the minute you suggest such alternatives, he complains they are boring. Try these 10 ways to break his digital addiction:

Recognise the positives

Your preschooler learns a great deal through the use of digital media, both at school and at home. Or course, there are less-important uses of digital devices that are not part of his education, but iPads, laptops and computers are central aids to his understanding.

Clarify your concerns

What exactly troubles you about his addiction? For example, maybe you are concerned he doesn’t mix enough with his pals, or perhaps you are worried that he plays the same game over and over again. Once you have identiïfied your specific concern, think of an alternative.

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