Why You Should Reduce Screen Time

If you want to raise healthy kids, it often starts with limiting certain things so that they 
are encouraged to play outside and be more active. This includes reducing their screen 
time. Here are some reasons why you should consider doing this.

Kids Are More Active

The less time your kids spend on their computers, playing video games, or watching TV, 
the more time they spend being active and finding outdoor adventures to go on. The 
problem with encouraging exercise in kids is that they feel like they don’t have enough 
time when you consider school, homework, dinner, and their TV time. However, if you 
start reducing screen time, they have those extra slots of time to do other things. It 
might not be easy in the beginning, so having the entire family reduce screen time is 
easier on the kids because you are all doing it together.

There Are Less Distractions

You will also notice that there aren’t as many distractions when everyone in the home is 
spending more time together or on other activities, and less on computers and cell 
phones. If you find that when you are all at the dinner table, an adult, teen, or child is 
distracted by their phone or tablet, it is a good sign that there are distractions getting in 
the way of regular conversation. This is a good reason to cut back.

You Get More Family Time

Along these same lines is the fact that you will have more time together as a family. 
Instead of letting everyone go off and do their own thing during the evenings or over the 
weekend, take away the electronics and do more family activities. This might be going 
for a walk, taking a drive to the beach, or enjoying an indoor game or crossword puzzle. 
You can have one game night every week or get some games and toys to enjoy in your 
backyard.

They Find Other Interests

When your kids aren’t spending their free time playing the Playstation or watching 
movies, they will start exploring other activities. You aren’t punishing them by taking 
everything away, but just limiting computer and TV time. This lets them play with more 
of their toys, find things to do outside, or maybe even making new friends in the 
neighborhood. This is never a bad thing! You might even buy them some new activities 
to make it a little easier to ditch all the electronics.

