In the digital age, no parent seems to be able to prevent their children from spending too much time starting at a screen; in the era of the ubiquitous smartphone, it seems all-but impossible to tear your children away from their cherished digital gadgets. What many parents are coming to realize, however, is that limiting your children’s screen time isn’t an impossible feat; all it takes is the right advice, a commitment to following the rules, and a little leniency every once and a while.

So how should you limit your children’s screen time without depriving them of the same privileges and experiences their friends are all enjoying? Rely on the tips of experts, and use some common-sense guidelines, and you’ll soon find that your kids will willingly turn off the screen without even having to heed your advice.

It’s not all about them

The first thing that any parent should remember when it comes to instilling valuable principles in their children from an early age is how important it is that they set a good example; you shouldn’t expect your kids to put down their iPhones or put away the computer if your own eyes are constantly glued to a screen. Everything is better in moderation, and understanding that you’ll need to temper your own desire to watch just one more episode of your favorite show will go a long way towards teaching your kids how to put their gadgets down occasionally.

Children and adults are fundamentally different; the right amount of screen time for a developed adult is different than for a developing child, after all. To understand how much time your children are spending staring at the screen, then, you may want to consider enlisting the help of some popular tools to keep track of how often they’re tapping away at their phones. Once you’ve gained an understanding of just how often your tots are browsing the internet, you can decide if you need to step in to limit excessive usage.

Many parents don’t seem to understand just how ubiquitous tech is in today’s world; while many of today’s adults grew up in relatively tech-sparse households with luddite parents, virtually every child in today’s day and age is constantly bombarded with digital messaging. These days, most children are as young as 12 when they receive their first smartphone, for instance, meaning it’s important you get a head start on this and tackle the issue of excessive internet usage early on in your child’s life.

To ensure that your kids aren’t wasting away staring at a screen all day, you’ll need to know that it’s important to put your foot down. No parent wants to play the role of bad cop too often, but the truth is that if you don’t strictly stick to the limits you set – whatever they may be – your children will quickly come to understand that your word means little when you order them to put the phone down or to shut off the computer. Don’t be afraid to be stern if they continuously fail to follow your orders, and alleviate their anger by taking part in non-digital activities with them instead.

Getting involved will be invaluable

Providing non-digital alternatives for your children is vital if you want them to avoid spending too much time online. It’s vital that your children receive a thorough education, pertaining to how to properly use digital tools, including a CSAT survey, and browse the web, but too much of anything inevitably leads down some worrisome roads. Take your kids outside when you want them off the screen, then, because you’ll come to find they’ll listen to you much more eagerly when you yourself provide a stellar example.

Blanket statements about how often your children should be using their devices aren’t always helpful to parents; as doctors will tell you, standards that work for one child won’t work always work for another one. Understanding your kid’s own personal preferences and capabilities is thus vital if you want to accurately limit their screen time without unduly trampling on their digital playtime.

Be sure you only count certain things as “excessive” screen time, too. Many of today’s children and teenagers alike rely on the internet to complete homework assignments, for instance, as virtually all institutions of learning from universities on down these days include some form of digital assignments or web-searching resources. Carefully delineating work from play early on will go a long way towards ensuring your kids get off their phones, tablets, and computers when the proper time comes.

There are serious risk to too much screen time; don’t be afraid to put your foot down if you’re worried your child is tech addicted. Be on their level, however, and realize the importance of tech in today’s world, and you’ll find the perfect balance for your kid’s digital intake in no time.