OH! Magazine - Australian Version June 2018 | Page 20

( FOCUS ON FAMILY )
HOW TO GET THE KIDS
OFF THE SCREENS
Bianca Slade shares her tips to help your kids ditch the devices.
round half of primary school
children and three-quarters of
secondary school children spend two or
more hours per day on their screens. then continue their thirst for knowledge
with real-life adventures. Head to a
museum or aquatic centre to learn first-
hand about the wonders of the world.
1. Join a sporting club 4. Set an example
Research shows that children who are
involved in after-school or extra-curricular
activities are less likely to spend more
than two hours a day on electronic devices
or in front of the television. School and
team sports are ideal, as it can help
improve your child’s concentration,
memory and greater self-confidence.
And of course, spending time exercising,
training, and competing means time away
from screens, and improved physical
wellbeing. Children learn from their parents, so if
your own screen time is hovering on the
heavy side, perhaps it’s time you too put
the device away. Set a time limit, or
‘curfew’ for devices, and stick to it.
A
2. Introduce a games night
No, not a game played on a screen, but
old-fashioned board games. After sitting
down together to have a family dinner
bring out an old favourite, separate into
teams and let the competition begin!
Board games can help children get along
with others, learn to lose graciously and
improve their cognitive learning capacity.
3. Follow up online information outside
If your child has been watching shows
about dinosaurs, or oceanic adventures,
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OH! MAGAZINE ( JUNE 2018 )
results. If you get stuck on a decision,
write down on small pieces of paper an
activity each member of the family would
like to do. On the weekend, or after
school, each family member takes it in
turn to choose an adventure. Let your
children’s imagination run wild and enjoy
every moment.
For more ideas, information, recipes and
activities to help grow your Little Well
Being’s full potential, visit
www.blackmores.com.au/superkids
5. Play to earn screen time
It’s recommended that children do at
least 60 minutes of exercise every day. A
good way to encourage this is to exchange
every minute of activity with the same
amount of screen time. The more your
child plays, jumps, runs or swims, means
equal time online. Plus, research
estimates the more children exercise the
less likely they are to reach for a device in
their down time, so it’s a win-win.
6. Plan some family sports or adventures
Whether it’s a bike ride, hike, walk in a
park or on the beach, or a family game of
soccer, group activities not only get your
children away from screens, but will form
better family bonds, enabling your
children to communicate more easily with
you, and even improve their school
Remember, if taking supplements always
speak to your healthcare practitioner if
symptoms persist. Always read the label.
Use only as directed. Supplements may
only be of assistance if dietary intake is
inadequate.
Bianca Slade is Blackmores’ Superkids
Cook, as well as a mum of three, a recipe
creator and owner of healthy cook blog
site, Wholefood Simply. Bianca is
passionate about creating whole foods
that the entire family can enjoy, as well as
recreating traditional treats and sweets to
suit her family’s whole food ways. Bianca
has published 10 cookbooks, including
her most recent book Wholefood Simply:
Natural Indulgence.