By Kylee Harris
Do you remember the last time your child played outdoors? Children today are less likely to head outside as they’re investing more time on their screens. According to new research, screen time among Australian primary schoolers has increased to 6.5 hours per day, with some kids ages 5 to 12 showing signs of gaming and smartphone addiction. The study confirms that screen use among children has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. What’s more, lead researcher Brad Marshall from Macquarie University said that the children who participated in the study revealed that their addiction to tech devices is “affecting their sleep, school, friendships, and even their mental health”.
As a parent, limiting your child’s smartphone or tablet use may prove to be a challenge, especially if they’ve already got a daily routine that involves using their devices for homework, chatting with friends, or keeping up with their interests. So it’s up to you to change their routine and initiate activities wherein they can use their gadgets while connecting with nature. Spending time in the natural world can help to heal and restore a child’s mental state and emotions, so here are some ideas for balancing screen time with green time.
According to new research, screen time among Australian primary schoolers has increased to 6.5 hours per day, with some kids ages 5 to 12 showing signs of gaming and smartphone addiction.
Use Nature Identification Apps
Balancing your child’s screen time with outdoor play not only improves their physical and mental health, but it also keeps them safe from various threats lurking online. Cybercriminals target school children to obtain their personal information or their parent’s payment details. This is why learning institutions are now integrating education cybersecurity solutions into their data systems since it helps to keep their students safe. At home, you can do the same by setting up privacy controls on your child’s accounts, using an antivirus, keeping apps and operating systems up to date, and encouraging your loved ones to engage in healthier activities.
Instead of letting your child scroll through social media or watch videos throughout the day, think about using nature identification apps to get them outside. Doing so allows you and your loved ones to learn more about the world around us while getting some fresh air and exercise. Simply download the apps, then use your smartphone camera to take a picture of a plant, bird or insect that you encounter during your excursions. To identify plants, try PlantNet for quick and easy plant identification, or iNaturalist so you can share your observations with other users. You can also download Merlin Bird ID to identify birds, as well as BugFinder to know more about the insects that you see on your walks.
