Helping to prepare your child for life begins with a foundation of wellness practices that empowers their physical and emotional resilience. This helps them develop self-care and independence.
Physical wellness consists of the care of the body with regards to nutrition, sleep, and regular physical activity which are major factors for intellectual growth. This helps to reduce anxiety.
Emotional wellness is developed through slowing down long enough to notice what is going on around you. Children can learn to be very observant or can get in the habit of focusing on their devices and closing off the external world. Connecting to community and engaging with others in the community will foster social skills and build emotional wellness.
The impacts of screen media impact both physical and emotional health and wellbeing. A sedentary lifestyle is not how children develop wellness. When offering your children technology and screen time options, look to those that connect them to nature, or ask a smart speaker to count to ten while playing
hide and seek, or show them items for searching with a scavenger hunt program.
Studies are showing that families who put their phones aside during meal times, and discouraging screen time the hour before bed see many benefits such as, preventing melatonin suppression and sleep displacement.
Evidence is growing that screen time for children younger than age 2 is not recommended other than video-chatting with an adult whom they know, for ages 2 to 5, strive for one hour or less per day and avoid screen time for one hour before bedtime. Monitor your children’s use and select appropriate games and channels. Watch tv or movies together versus having your children do this alone, and avoid background TV when not being watched.
Explore these recommendations and enjoy the changes that they bring.