Screen-Play Balance: Effects of Screen Time on Children's Entertainment and Alternatives

Screen time is time spent on digital devices, including computers, smartphones and tablets.

Screen time is linked to a variety of negative health outcomes for children, including obesity and sleep problems.

In addition to these physical consequences, screen time also limits opportunities for play, an important part of childhood development that helps children learn to solve problems and develop social skills.

  Types of screen time

There are many types of screen time. Television, video games, and smartphones are examples of screen time. A child's screen time can also include tablets and laptops if they are used for entertainment purposes.

Screen time isn't necessarily bad for kids; however, it's important to understand how much screen time your child can spend in front of a screen based on their age and developmental level.

The negative impact of screen time

Screen time can have a negative impact on children's physical health, mental health, and social and emotional development.

Time spent in front of the screen is associated with

● obesity (due to lack of exercise);

● poor sleep (due to late bedtime or early awakening);

● insufficient physical activity (which leads to obesity).

  Alternatives to screen time

● creative games;

● outdoor games;

● imagination games (role playing, dressing up);

● board games.

  Encouragement of creative thinking

Play is an opportunity for children to explore and experiment with the world around them. It's also a chance for them to develop their own ideas and thoughts that will help them become more independent thinkers later in life. The best way to encourage your child's creativity is to ask open-ended questions that encourage her to think about things differently than she normally does. For example: "How would you solve this problem?" or "What do you think of this idea?". If your child has never tried something before, try to get them interested by taking them somewhere new (like an art museum).

  Use of toys and props

If you want to encourage your child's imagination and creativity, the best thing you can do is to provide them with toys and props to help them create their own worlds. You can also arrange a space for creative games, for example, an old suitcase or a cardboard box. If your child is older, they may prefer to build their own "house" out of blankets on the floor or create their own art studio in another room of the house.

When choosing toys for your kids (or even yourself), look for ones that encourage imagination rather than just sitting in front of a screen. Try not to buy electronic devices unless absolutely necessary, as they tend to be more passive than active forms of entertainment; instead, choose things like dollhouses and board games where kids have to use their imaginations while interacting with the other people around them!

  Play with your child

Playing with your child is a great way to get involved in their play and help you learn more about what they enjoy. If you play with her, you can see what games she likes the most and how she plays them differently than other kids.

As an added bonus, joining their imaginary world will help strengthen the parent-child bond. The more time you spend together doing things that make you both happy - and doing it together - the closer those bonds become!

  Storytelling and drama games

Storytelling is a great way to encourage your child's imagination and creativity. You can help her by acting out stories with costumes and props, or by exploring different roles and characters.

In addition to storytelling, dramatic play is another activity that encourages children's imaginations. It allows them to act out their own stories by playing with toys that they have invented themselves (for example, dolls or cars). Encourage children to ask open-ended questions and explore new experiences and encourage them to explore the world around them. Allow your child to play with real objects rather than screens whenever possible.

  Use of toys and props

● use toys and props;

● creation of space for creative play;

● choose toys that encourage creative play.

  Play with your child

A great way to encourage your child to play is to join them. You can become a character or just sit back and watch her go about her usual business. Your presence will help the child feel supported and safe, which will increase the likelihood of involving him in creative play activities.

If you don't know how to properly support your child's imagination, try letting him lead the way instead of trying to manage everything yourself. Allow children to express their creativity outside, give them the freedom to choose what will happen next - and it can be a very exciting thing!

Storytelling and drama games

Storytelling Oriya is the act of creating a story and sharing it with others. It is a great way for children to express themselves, develop their imagination and language skills. You can tell stories in different ways:

1. Acting out stories using costumes and props - this can be as simple as dressing up in clothes that represent the characters in the story, or making props, such as masks or puppets, to help bring them to life. Kids will love participating in this activity.

2. Learning different roles and characters - children love to play pretend games where they can try on different roles (eg an animal) or dress up to make them look like someone else (eg a princess). This type of role play helps children to better understand their own identity by giving them the opportunity to see things from a different perspective.

  Encourage imaginative play

Pretend play is a great way to encourage your child's imagination, creativity and language skills. It also helps them learn to share, share and negotiate with their peers.

Here are some ways you can encourage imaginative play:

1. Create a kitchen room or store where your child can play with toy food, dishes and other props. Encourage her to explore different roles and professions by asking questions like "Who are you?" or "What would you like to eat today?". This will help develop her social skills and imagination.

2.Use everyday items around the house for props (eg cups/plates) so the child doesn't feel limited in the toys they have access to!

  Activities in the fresh air

1. Create an outdoor play space.

2. Explore nature.

3.Do outdoor sports such as running, jumping, skipping rope and playing quacha.

  Encouraging creative expression

Creative expression is another way to encourage children to play. This can be a simple way - to provide a child with drawing supplies, or a more complex one - to explore different tools and techniques with her. You can also use music and movement to help them express themselves creatively!

If you're looking for some ideas on how to get started with creative expression:

  Provide the kids with art supplies (paints, colored pencils, markers, etc.) and let them run wild! This is one of my favorite ways to encourage creativity in children - they will love seeing their masterpieces come together on paper or canvas! If you want something less messy than paint, but still want something colorful, try using markers; they're easier on little hands than chalk because they don't need to be sharpened before use (just keep the extra pack somewhere safe). You can even ask your child to draw pictures based on books they have recently read - this will help strengthen comprehension skills by giving them the freedom to manipulate what each picture depicts!

  Conclusion

It's important to note that screen time isn't necessarily a bad thing. It can be a valuable tool for learning, communication and entertainment. But it is important not to abuse it and not allow children to spend too much time in front of the screen.

If you decide your child needs some screen time, try these alternatives:

  Encourage creative play. Create an environment where children can use their imaginations without the distraction of technology or other real-world stimuli (such as television). This could mean setting up a tent in your home with blankets and pillows inside to make them feel like they're camping - or letting them run around outside without shoes, like they're barefoot!

  You can also encourage them to make up stories based on what they see around them: are there ants crawling on the floor? Maybe these ants are actually tiny aliens who want help finding their spaceship? The possibilities are endless when children get creative!