Too Much Screen Time? Bring in the Books!

My father-in-law emailed me an article from the Wall Street Journal that stated 0-8 year old children have some sort of screen entertainment 3 hours a day. It was shocking to me, but then I started to think about how minutes in front of the phone, iPad, and TV can really add up. If you are finding that your children are spending waaaay too much time in from of a screen here is one way you can ease into books as a replacement.

Make connections.

 Instead of watching Paw Patrol, Moana, Peppa Pig, or insert your child's favorite TV show here, pull out a book that is based on one of those shows/movies. I guarantee you'll be able to find them online or in a local store. Read those books. Gradually introduce others. If they love the Pua the pig from Moana, pull in a different pig story the following evening. Keep branching off into different types of books that have connections. Example: Your daughter loves princesses. Pull in a different princess story. Then pull in biographies of other women and girls.

How can this work for my older children? Do the same as the younger. Pull books out that are connected to their interest. If they are playing Minecraft, get books that help them strategize. Read those together before they play. As they get use to you reading together, pull in chapter books or more nonfiction to read together. Ask their teacher for some titles they think your child will enjoy if you don't know where to start (or drop a comment, and I'll help you).

If there is still a fight, tell them you need to read a book together before they have their screen time. Delay it a little more each day. If you are in it together, you will be less likely to revert back to all that screen time. 

If you would like help finding books your child would enjoy, drop a comment with your child's age and interests. I'd be glad to help.