DIGITAL DETOX: BALANCING SCREEN TIME FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

With excessive screen-time fast becoming one of the biggest health issues facing us and our children, let’s take a look at a few ways to rebalance and reconnect with each other.

Screen addiction is a real problem that’s affecting adults and kids alike. The presence of screens virtually everywhere, coupled with our reliance upon them, makes for a troublesome combination. Whether it’s scrolling on social media apps or catching up on our favourite show, we have all spent a lot more time in front of a screen than we’d like to admit. It’s totally understandable though! After a long, busy day, sometimes all we feel capable of is scrolling on Instagram or letting Netflix play episode after episode.

THE BENEFITS OF TAKING A BREAK

Taking a break from screens is not something we’re used to doing but it’s definitely worth considering. While it may be difficult at first, you’ll almost certainly notice the benefits once you’ve tried it. Beyond the health boost that you’ll experience from taking time away from screens, you’ll become more engaged in your real life and what’s going on around you. It happens to all of us - we miss a special moment because we get a notification, or we’re too busy catching up on the news to see that our little ones need us.

The same goes for our children. We’re bombarded with facts around how screen time is affecting their wellbeing. The responsibility lies with us parents to help our children navigate this challenging digital world without spending every waking moment glued to their phone.

WHERE TO BEGIN