How To Get Kids Off Their Phones

These days mobile phones are common place for children as young as 3 years old. The world is a completely different place from when we were younger.   Because of this, it can be hard to know where to draw the line with technology and our children.  Today, I’m sharing parenting tips on how to get kids off phones.  

There’s nothing wrong with letting your child watch peppa pig or play Final Fantasy 15 for an hour in the evenings.  However, when the hour turns into a large chunk of the day it should become a concern.  If you are struggling with how to get kids off their phones we have a few tips:

Go somewhere with no reception

How to get kids off their phones is a question many parents are pondering.  Another suggestion is to have them pay attention to the wider world.  For example, simply take them somewhere where there is no cell reception.  Of course, in towns and cities you will never find an area which is completely void of cell phone reception.  However, if you venture out to the countryside you should be successful.  Involve your children in nature for awhile.  You can benefit in several way by spending the day hiking in the countryside.  You will bond as a family and a hike contribute to your health.   Most importantly, you will be encouraging them to stop and look at the world around them.  Invite them to take photos of what will remind them of a family outing.  They will gain tangible connections to the world around them and gain an appreciation for nature.

Start a project

How to get kids off their phone you ask?  Offer additional things for the kids to do.  By doing a fun activity or starting a project as a family you will allow your child to focus on something other than their phone.  Furthermore, they will learn new skills along the way.  If you have smaller children build a tree or playhouse. Kids love to climb and play, and they also love to have their own space to do things.  By giving them the task of helping to build a treehouse, they will be much happier and learn new skills which they can use later on in life. They will learn about measurements, colors, and building materials.

Limit Apps

With the number of mobile games that exist, it can feel as if your kids will never get off their devices.  However, as a parent you have the power to control what they do.  Limit how much and what your children download per month.  Set a limit on what games they play and how long they play them. They may get bored and stop playing it all together.  It’s the perfect way to control their gaming habits.

Use Digital Currency

Before you panic we aren’t talking about letting the kids loose with bitcoins.  However, the idea of paying for what you get is actually a brilliant way on how to get kids ooto limit the time they spend playing on their phones. For example, if you were to allow your child a budget of $30 for a month, they would have to spend this money every time they wanted to watch a film on Netflix or play a game online. You can then control how much time they spend on their phone because an hour of use will cost them $1 each time. They will therefore only realistically be able to use their phone for 1 hour each day.

Phone Stack It

If you have never heard of phone stack?  It’s a way to stop people from getting distracted when they are eating dinner or out with family and friends.  The idea is to place everyone’s phone in the center of the table in a pile.  The first person to pick up their phone is the one who has to pay for lunch or do a forfeit. At home you can do this when you sit down for your evening meal. Whoever picks up their phone first will have to clear the table and wash dishes.  This will be a great way to stop your kids playing on their phones.  The last thing they want to do is chores!

Rewards for work

Another way to get your kids off their phones is to set up a reward system.  For example, when your kids complete their chores or homework, they will earn an hour to play on their phones or watch a show on Netflix.  Additionally, this can also apply to not picking up their phones during family dinners and movie nights.  By motivating your child to receive an award, they may be more receptive to cooperating.

Give them a fun outing

Finally, another idea of how to get kids off their phones is a trip.  It can a trip to a theme park, the zoo or even a day at the beach. You will reward your child for not spending more than an hour a day on their phone.  It will teach your child a valuable lesson about earning rewards.  Most importantly, it will teach your child to value the world and all that is has to offer.  Besides, it can be just as fun as playing on their phone.