Therapy Tip: 5 Ways to Break Screen Time

It's Therapy Thursday! This is the day that I share a tip based upon my experience as a mother of a child with special needs and a pediatric speech-language pathologist.

Last week, I shared how screen time needs to be avoided in toddlers, especially those with language delays. If you missed that post that shared the recommended screen time guidelines and why screen time isn't great, then CLICK HERE TO READ IT.

Today's tip is a follow-up post from last week:

5 Ways to Reduce Screen Time in Toddlers

You may realize that your toddler or young child may be getting too much screen time via the family's television, phone, or IPad. However, you may not have an idea of how to lessen the child's time on screens. Change doesn't take place overnight. It also doesn't happen by chance. Careful planning and adjustments need to be made to help reduce screen time, which we are hoping will increase the child's time playing with toys or engaging with other people.

Here's some tips to reduce screen time:

1. Don't automatically have screens on.
This is the biggest mistake I see parents make. The child gets up in the morning, and the tv goes on immediately (or the Ipad or phone) and stays on for the rest of the day. If your child is accustomed to having a screen on non-stop, make sure the devices are off at certain times. Having devices off in the morning, after naps, during meals, etc. sets a new routine for the child. By having times when these things are off (even if it's just for the duration of a meal at first), then you are getting your child use to times without the visual and auditory sensations that come from that device.

Screens in the vehicle are not necessary! Sure, if you are making a long trip, then you may need a screen to help your child cope with the long drive. If you are giving your child a screen for every small trip in the car, then something needs to change! There are plenty of other things you can offer your child to keep them happy in their car seat, but they may not want to accept these at first. Having music on the radio that would appeal to them can help. (I use to have the Wiggles on in my van, but it wasn't for me!) Often times both the child and the adult have gotten into these screen habits, but it's important to have times without them or activities that are screen free.

2. Keep devices out of sight and reach.
If your child truly loves their screens, then it's important to keep them out of sight and reach. Of course, you can't do this with televisions, but you can easily put phones, tablets, and dvd cases out of sight. If the child sees the tablet, they will want it. If you put it away, you can possibly delay giving it to them. Over the years, I have had to place my own child's movies out of reach in her closet or move the location of the tablet so that she wouldn't immediately go for these when she woke up.

3. Redirect and distract!
If the child indicates they want screen time, don't give in immediately. This is the second biggest mistake I see parents make. The child points to the television, and the parents put their show on. Try telling the child to wait a minute. Busy yourself with an activity if you must to show your child you can't do it immediately. Delaying the screen time will teach them that you are not giving in to demands when they want. This is an important first step!

Toddlers also respond great to redirection and distraction. Grab a toy that may give them extra sensory input such as a musical toy or play-doh or finger-painting. Do something physical with your child like throwing a ball in a box or jumping over small toys. Active play is a great distraction. Get down on the floor and play with your child! Engage them in play so they aren't left alone to think about their screens. This isn't feasible all day long, but this will be essential in the beginning if you are really trying to break a screen addiction for your child.

4. Let devices run down.
If the batteries run down in devices, don't charge them immediately. Let them be off. The child can suffer through the power outage, and it's one way to control the screen time. Just don't let them watch it while it's charging.

5. Just say no.
It's easy to suggest, but it's hard to do sometimes. It's ok to tell your child no. In fact, boundaries are great. Your toddler especially needs to understand and adapt to this word. Yes, you may have some tantrums and problems for a few days while they are adjusting, but you are the adult. You can tell them no. Playing with toys is not a punishment, but they may think it is in the beginning. You can use visuals such as a stop sign or a circle with a line through it to indicate to the child that screen time is over. You can also make a visual schedule with pictures showing the child the routine: breakfast, playtime, screen time.

If your child is spending hours watching screens, you need to make changes. At first, you may be decreasing their screen time for a few minutes over the course of a day, but you can keep building to increase their time off the screens. It will be hard at first, but in a few weeks you will thank yourself for what you did.

Therapy Thursday is for educational purposes only and not intended as therapeutic advice. 

Therapy Tip: #1 Thing to Avoid for Toddlers

It's Thursday! Time for another speech therapy tip. This is the day that I share a tip or piece of advice as a pediatric speech-language pathologist and the mother of a child with special needs. Today's tip is:

The 1 Thing You Should Avoid While Your Child is Learning Language

Today, I will get on my soapbox. I've been an in-home therapist for over 10 years now, and I have certainly seen a trend developing. Electronics have long been part of the adult world for some time now. But, I see babies and toddlers being introduced to smart phones and tablets more and more often.

There are guidelines set by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Basically, there should be no screen time for children 18 months and younger. No videos, movies, games, etc. on televisions, smart phones, tablets, or other devices. None unless you are video chatting with a person.

For those 18-24 months, children are allowed some screen time as long as it's educational in nature and the parents are nearby to remark on what the child is seeing.

For preschool aged children, an hour of screen time is allowed if it's educational and parents are nearby again to teach the child how to apply what they are watching and learning.
Click here to read more about these guidelines.

I know what you are thinking. These recommendations are strict and not practical. I get it. I'm not saying you need to follow these guidelines exactly. However, too much screen time early on should be considered bad, especially if the child has a language delay. I have been in too many homes for a speech therapy session where toddlers have easy and frequent access to their parent's phone, tablet, and/or television. Many parents see these devices as a positive thing that will help their child hear and learn language, but the opposite is true.

Children learn language from people and play. Period! Children learn best from a language rich environment that happens when a person talks and plays with them. Playing with your child with actual toys is the best way to help your child with and without language delays.

The benefits of play have well been documented in research. In play, a child works on developing fine and gross motor skills. They also work on imitation, problem solving skills, imagination, creativity, language, and cause-and-effect. Sure, apps and videos can do some of these same things, but trust me when I say this: Children need to learn language from people and through play!

Screen time is no substitute for your child engaging with another person. Screens provide entertainment that is rich visually and auditory, so they are easy for children to enjoy and love. But, they can also cause children to "check out" as they focus on the screen and ignore the world around them. 

If your baby or toddler has screen time for more than an hour a day, you need to reduce it! If your child obsesses over an app or a movie, then it's time to readjust routines to break that obsessions. If your child ignores their toys or doesn't use them appropriately (throws or holds them only), then they need more time playing with another adult showing them how to play (and how it can be fun!). This is all especially true if your child is showing some delays in language or has been enrolled in speech therapy.

Devices have their place, but their place should not be in front of your toddler all day long! Making changes is hard, but this change is critical to help your child's skills grow and flourish.

Therapy Thursday is for educational purposes only and not intended as therapeutic advice.

Therapy Tip-Screen Time Picks

It's Thursday! Time for a therapy tip based upon my experience as a pediatric speech-language pathologist and a mother of a child with special needs.

Today's tip is:

Screen Time Picks

I-pads, Kindles, televisions, DVD players, and computers....There are no shortages of ways children can get screen time. There are strong recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics for screen time for toddlers and children. I agree that children at this age learn best from people, play, and social interaction.

That being said, I am a mom. I understand that your child might be interested in television. Your child might need to have some screen time so you can get a moment to do some housework. With that in mind, I would like to suggest my top three picks for shows that actually build language and speech development.

1. Signing Time: 
I love, love, love the Signing Time series! My daughter got hooked on these DVDs as a toddler and were instrumental in increasing her signing and overall vocabulary. These movies do aim to teach words in sign language. However, the movies are wonderful at teaching overall vocabulary. That is why I recommend these videos for those with language delays whether or not I am trying to teach them sign language in therapy. Each episode has a theme with vocabulary built around it, so you can choose vocabulary based on what your child's understanding is. Check it out on: www.signingtime.com

Here's a few from our collection

2. Leap Frog Letter Factory:
This movie is my pick for young children with speech and articulation errors. This movie is more appropriate for soon to be 3 year olds or pre-school age children. The earlier children can understand the connection between letters and sounds, the better off they will be for school. Children who make many speech sound errors need this type of teaching to help them understand what speech therapy is trying to achieve with speech sound treatment. This movie reinforces these concepts. For that reason, I love this movie, which is available online or in stores.

3. Mother Goose Club:
My daughter found this series on Netflix. I must admit that these videos drove me absolutely mad as a mother. As a speech-language pathologist though, I appreciated the simplicity of these videos. These are great for toddlers or children in the early stages of learning to use words to communicate. They are repetitive, which is great for building language. The songs held my daughter's attention and encouraged her to vocalize along to the songs. This video is still available on Netflix. You can also check them out at: http://www.mothergooseclub.com/




Note: These are really my personal picks. I am not being asked to promote any of these! Check them out!

Therapy Thursday is for educational purposes only and not intended as therapeutic advice.