In the digital age, it can be hard to balance concerns about too much screen time and giving our children access to educational television and videos. How can parents balance the two? It's not as hard as you may think. Here are our five tips for making sure your kiddos enjoy educational videos without spending too much time on mobile devices or in front of TVs!

1. Have a Well-Balanced Schedule

Unless you homeschool your children, you can't expect to control what happens while your kids are in school. Instead of stressing how much they might have watched in school, plan a schedule for their at-home time. This should include a balance that you find acceptable. An example might be an hour of outside time, an educational program or two, chores, homework, and "regular" TV to enjoy for a while.

2. Be a Discerning Test Audience

A children’s television show which seems crass and low-brow may, upon closer inspection, turn out to be an insightful and thought-provoking program. Whiteboard-style animated marketing videos, which are often promotional, can be respun into informative tutorials on how to ride a bike or what to expect when going to the doctor. The point is that parents need to take the time to watch content themselves before deciding whether or not it counts as “entertainment” or “educational.” You may be depriving your child of something which can teach them a lot simply because of the way it looks at first glance.

3. Clear & Strict Deadlines & Guidelines

Most experts suggest turning off electronics an hour before bedtime - including the TV. This helps to promote healthier and more restful sleep. So ensuring that your kids turn off the TV when you say they should is important. The same goes for making sure you have appropriate disciplinary actions for if they "cheat" with their educational programming or try to sneak around screen time rules. It's important that educational programming is seen as a fun reward, but that doesn't mean your kiddos should think there are no consequences for sneaking in "regular" shows while they're supposed to be learning.

4. Make Minor Adjustments as You See Fit

If you notice that your child isn't paying attention during their educational shows, it's fine to say that they shouldn't split their attention between TV time and play time. Likewise, if they're being lackluster when you're trying to balance outside time with TV time, you can encourage them by playing with them or buying cool outside-only toys. Your kids aren't cookie cutter, so find a schedule that works and fine tune it as needed!

5. Let Your Kiddos Help Choose the Programming

A great way to ensure that your children will pay attention to educational programming and not give you too much guff about watching it is to let them help you choose which educational TV shows make the roster. If they're interested and enjoy the show, they're more likely to find it engaging and learn from it. This also helps them to feel a little more in control of their own lives and can help to teach them responsibility at a younger age.

Of course, there are many great guides out there that can help you choose program-by-program. This is meant to be a more overall guide to help you keep up with schedules and choose what works for your family. We highly encourage you to do your own research to find a balance of expert recommendations with real-life practicability that works for you and your children's schedules.