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Lets face it, screens are addictive.
Now imagine kids who grow up with thesedevices, bombarded with instant gratification in a 360-loop.
This can be detrimental to their mental and physical well-being.
Let me show you where this started, right here.
The question is, can I get on screens?
The answer is it depends.
There are lists of things they need to do, and one of them isexercise.
My son chose to do his 20 minutes oflifting weights.
He decided he wanted more time after school to play with his friends.
You see, we have all their screens locked away.
So, my kids have their chores done, rooms clean, exercise finished, and laundry done.
Screen use is associated with increased depression and anxiety in teens.
Hopefully, you should also be regulating the amount of screen time that they have.
This morning, he had a big smile on his face and felt better about himself.
I had the opportunity to express how proud I was of him.
It seems like we communicate more through texts nowadays
I think its the time we live in.
Babies need parents, and teenagers need parents too.
They need rules, guidance, and boundaries.
Youre trying to help your children develop good habits.
If you dont do it, nobody else will.
Hes been married for 17 years and has 7 children.
In the video, he showcases his sons daily workout routine beforeschool.
Though his son initiated this habit, the original poster (OP) still sets boundaries around screen time.
He achieves this through an organized list of activities the kids need to complete.
To access their devices, the children must accomplish everything on the list.
Image credits:Trieu Thanh Tam (not the actual photo)
Why are boundaries aroundscreen timeso important?
Studies link excessive screen time to increased depression and anxiety in teens.
It disrupts sleep, limits physical activity, and can hinder social development.Dr.
Wadsworths system is brilliant in its simplicity.
Screens are locked away, forcing communication.
A list of tasks chores, exercise, homework becomes a stepping stone to screen time.
This approach teaches kids prioritization and the value of accomplishment.
Its about building well-rounded young adults.
By setting clear rules and boundaries, we can empower them to develop healthy habits and become responsible individuals.
Bored Pandareached out toDr.
Wadsworthto understand how he established his system.
My wife and I have seven children, thats where Ive learned the most.
It all started back while COVID had everyone hiding in their houses and out of schools.
It wasnt long before they didnt want to play outside anymore.
They just wanted to watch YouTube videos all day.
He noticed that their attention span lowered and they couldnt sit and read a book like they used to.
They were more moody, grumpy, and irritable.
They got into more arguments with each other.
I knew something had to change.
It has worked remarkably well.
We went to the water, hiked, and went for long bike rides in beautiful places.
Being in nature seemed to help a lot.
But we also talked to them about what we were doing and why.
My 4 year old likes to play with toys and so we do that together.
Because we spend time with each other, we have a relationship and they know that I love them.
Commenters applauded the author while some took notes for themselves
