Kids and Electronics Can Be a Balancing Act

We live in the information age. As a result, young children are surrounded by electronic toys, mobile phones, tablets and computers and have become surprisingly adept at using them. Common Sense Media, an organization dedicated to safe technology use states that 98 per cent of children under eight years of age have access to a tablet or smartphone. As a parent, how can you make the most of electronic technology without overdoing it and what benefits might it provide?An important fact to keep in mind is that electronics can never replace the benefits of creative, unstructured play and the Canadian Pediatrics Society does not recommend any screen time for children under age two. As your child grows, continue to proceed with caution, limiting use to an hour a day or less. Real-life opportunities to interact with others will best prepare children for the school years ahead. Make time for activities critical to a child’s development at this age including nature, music, art, dance and physical movement.When you do introduce electronics, consider choices as you would books or other learning opportunities with three main ideas in mind:– Keep it Interactive: Pictures of family members, pets or stories loaded onto a device will permit your child to interact with you. If you have extended family far away, schedule a visit over Facetime or Skype.– Match use with age: Skill-focused games are available for use in the Lethbridge Public Library’s Digital Play Packs.– Have Fun, Stay Engaged Together: Activities that foster creativity make time spent together special and can be shared with others.Striking a healthy balance with electronics means your child can move forward competently with the skills they need for the future while also fostering the healthy growth of young minds and bodies while they play.To support parents in finding a balance with digital play and active play, Lethbridge Early Years Coalition has partnered with Lethbridge Public Library to create Digital Play Packs. Digital Play Packs are a suitcase of fun that are packed with books, games and activity supplies to support digital learning as well as encourage active play. Digital Play Pack themes include Superhero and Science.A special thanks to Sunrise Rotary, Helen Schuler Nature Centre and Lethbridge Sport Council for their help creating three new themes this year: Nature play; physical literacy; and hide & seek. Digital Play Packs can be borrowed with your child’s free library card at the Lethbridge Public Library.Lethbridge Early Years Coalition believes that children deserve a safe and nurturing childhood. Science tells us that the early years (from birth to age five) are the most critical period in a child’s development. A child’s early experiences and environments have lifelong impacts on everything from mental and physical health to success in school, work and relationships.