It’s important for your little one to enjoy a wide range of activities every day including physical active play, creative and imaginative play, hands-on fun and anything that involves spending time and interacting with other people.
The problem is, screen time often comes at the expense of these other important activities. There’s a strong link between too much screen time and poor concentration, reduced intellectual development, and increased levels of obesity.
Reducing screen-based activities to help your kids ‘switch to play’ is really important. By encouraging them to switch to play every day, you’re helping them:
- develop the good habit of being physically active
- make friends and improve social skills
- enjoy fun creative play
- maintain a healthy weight, and
- have a good start to learning.
Switch it off and encourage kids to play
This might sound like a case of ‘easier said than done’ – but there are some fun alternatives to screen time. Here are some active play ideas to get things rolling:
- Have dress ups, puzzles, crafts and building blocks ready for play at anytime
- Encourage fun, active play (indoors and outdoors) such as dancing to music
- Try different activities that your family can enjoy together
- Encourage your kids to help with household activities like packing away toys
More information and ideas are available from the below resources:
Let us know your ideas! kidsatplay@act.gov.au
Did you know?
- Kids request more soft drinks and sugary, salty or fatty snack foods when they watch a lot of TV
- Kids copy the behaviour of parents, siblings and friends
- Kids who spend a lot of time on screens (more than two hours a day) are more likely to have poorer health and educational outcomes.
