Quote:
Originally Posted by CliffFletcher
It’s not even necessarily the content, it’s what the screen time displaces. Even if phones and the content they access were regulated to be completely benign, it would still be bad for the health and development of kids if they spent 4+ hours a day on them instead of doing stuff outside, learning physical skills, or socializing face-to-face.
|
I wish it were that simple. He's limited to 60-90 mins a day. He does other activities voraciously. He's as smart if not smarter than many kids 2-3 years older than him. Enjoys playing with older kids and learning stuff. Didn't like kids his age because they're not as engaging in his opinion.
He's not anti social or lacking a childhood. He just has problems understanding what to do with silence, stillness and darkness and I have no clue how else I can help with that without being a high functioning coke addict or something.
Quote:
Originally Posted by WinnipegFan
I'd say get hime something like a beyblade set or anything the kids can play with together while waiting. We brought them into my school along with some basic toys. I can honestly say my middle schoolers never look at a device at lunch or snack time anymore and we provide them with brand new ipads for learning but we heavily monitor them and spot scan them with IT for any social media.
|
He has beyblades, Bakugan, Uno, monopoly deal, board games, lego, activity books, origami etc. He does have fun with other kids, but it ultimately doesn't grip them like an addictive social media does.
He's really into books, he's started to be interested in chess, he likes helping with meals/chores and solving or creating things, arguing with Siri or Alexa... but once he's tired or done the task, he really wants to watch stuff.
80-90% of kids at BAC have a device. He says they often run out of patience doing the activities so they end up watching on their devices, so my son watches their devices with them.
I don't really blame him, but I'm also at a loss how to approach this. I'll put it this way. He's in grade two and I'm assuming I'm probably only a few months away from him graduating from reading pokemon graphic novels, to him reading my Calvin and hobbes books.
I have a bunch of ideas on things that I could do with him probably when he's 9-10 ish, but at age 7, I've run out of ideas that are at his capabilities. He has no clue what to do with silence and boredom. He's also too smart for kids his age, but not yet smart enough for some activities I want to do.