It was hard to limit my kids’ screen with the looking at my Own – ryan

From the moment we become pars, we create a list of things we will Teach our child and things that will be a strict no. I Intended to be StrICT on Junk Food Consumption, Social Media Exposives, and Sleepovers with Friends and More Lenient on Letting Make New Friends, and Chooking Their Own Things.

Drawing uphon the Experience of Other Parents WHO Struggle with their Kids over devices, Screen Topped My “Off-Limits” list. It was something that was i was sura i wouldn’t back down.

Little did i realize at the time, children pic up on what parents do, not what they hear us tell say.

We Started Strong

Parents have been told over and over again that excesses screen use is proven to significly hinder a Child’s Mental Growth. Like Many, I was determining to minimize it for my kids.

My husband and i did not buy them Their Own Devices, and We Limited Access to Streaming Services, Other Children’s Gadgets, and Vent Our Phones and Laptops As We Could.

Still, there are days when vigilance slipped, and the Kids spent hours Watching youtube or online games games. On those days, guilt weighed heavily on with for breaking my own rules.

LIFE HAPPENED, and Screen Time Started to Take Its Toll

Eventually, we gave in and bought say their tablets when they were around 6 and 9. We set the timers on the devices and explained clear rules about Daily Screen use. At first, They Coopered. But as my workload increasing and a new baby Arrived, I struggled to enforce consisency.

My Husband’s Long Hours at work left more respectibility on me. Soon, I noticed Both my boys (then ages 7 and 10) showing signs of aggression. Their Behavior Mirrord the Characters they played with in games. They Also Showed Anger Well We to Away Away Devices, and Knew the Effects of Too Much Screen Time Were Beginning to show.

I Begin Counseling say on Healthy Habits, but the Advice Didn’t Stick. One Day, We Went to A Park for Some Much-Needed Outdoor Play. Instead of running to the swings, they Sat down, Pulled out their tablets from their backpacks, and started gaming. Furious, I asked say to put the devices away and reminded say WHY we were there. My Younger Son Loked AT with and Said, “But mum, that what do you do all the time, too. Aren’t you always on your Phone?”

That was a Wake-up call. He was right. I Spent Long Hours on My Phone, Scrolling Social Media and Watching Shows for Entertainment. With Work, Chores, and Three Children, I often Felt i Desert the Distraction. But SOMEST I WASN’T PAUSNG DURING MEALS. My Own Habit Was Setting A Poor Example for My Kids.

The Realization Forced with to Shift My Focus to My Own use of Screens

Instead of Only Policing My Children’s use, i had to curtail my own. The shift was HARERDER THAN I EXPECTED. AFTER SEVERAL FAILED ATTEMPTS TO PUT MY PHONE AWAY, DEEDED TO HAVE SMALL STEPS.

First, I was notified I used to my phone to distract myself from work. A task that should have taken half an hour stretched into two hours. The guilt that followed made me more stressed. To Change this, I beging my phone in another room while working. The distance helped with focus.

I ALSO STARTED USING MY PHONE’S BUILT INSHEATES TO TRACK My Screen Time. They gave with a clear picture of how Much i wasted scrolling. Once of Saw the Daily Numbers, I felt motivated to cut back.

Meals were my Next Focus. I decide to put my Phone Away Completely and Encourage Family Conversations at the Dinner Table. Work Waul Wait. The Change felt refreshing, and my children responds positivly once they got over the initial pain of not being to bring their devices to the dinner table.

I have discussed my struggles with screen use with my kids. I admitted openly that I was trying to break the habituses I was harming with and us a family. I think that honesty made me more open to change, too.

I have Achieved a Better Balance Between Work, Life, and Leis

Almost a year late, I can Say of Have Transformed My Relationship with Screens. I don’t binge-watch as many shows, and my social media is limited to the Certain Times of the Day. My Children, in Turn, have started to cut down on their screen time. While we are still not at the level I Want, The Progress Still Feels Like a Win.