Get Your Child Into Healthy Habits
If you feel that your child is spending too much time on his tablet, phone, or another device, then it may be time for you to do something about it. There are many ways that you can distract him and get him into a more positive habit. But, in order to do that, you need to be intentional about how you live your day and try to be more present, as well. Then, you will be teaching him a good habit every day.
Start By Thinking About What You Can Do Together
There are many fun activities that you can do away from the phone or tablet, and you should plan activities for the whole family. You should go bowling or swimming. You should take your family on a road trip, even if just for the day. You should get out of the house and go on bike rides together. There are many fun activities that you can do as a family, and when you get in the habit of doing one of them, even weekly, you will provide a good distraction from electronics. And you might find that the time that you spend together as a family is just as good for you as it is for your child.
Think About What Your Child Can Do On His Own
You should come up with some activities that you can suggest to your child when he is spending time alone so that he won’t get bored when you are working or have other things to do. You should get him off of his devices to read. There are many stores where you can buy adventure books for 8 to 12 year old boys, and you can bring your son along with you to the store to pick them out. Once he sees all of the books that he could read, he might willingly give up his devices. And, there are other things that you can buy for him, such as model ships or cars or a skateboard, and you should be able to find something that will hold his interest.
Pay Attention To What You Are Doing
It is important not only to distract your child with things like books or model ships but to also think about what you are doing each day and get off of your phone more often. The more time that you spend off of the device, the more time you will be able to live in the moment and enjoy time with your family. And, you will set a good example as you do that, and you will find more joy in each day because of being off it. You can sit down together as a family for each meal and really talk to one another. You will find your child more excited about what he is doing each day because he is not spending as much time on his devices, and that will make you know that you have done your job right.
