Victorian parents enforcing school holiday digital detoxes amid safety warnings

PARENTS are putting their children on digital detoxes these school holidays, even designating one day a week to be technology-free.

PARENTS are putting their children on digital detoxes these school holidays, even designating one day a week to be technology-free.

It comes as experts worry parents don’t understand the full consequences of overdosing on screen time, with the potential for poorer language, cognitive and social skills.

Cutting down on device use by even 30 minutes a day can help start healthier habits, says Deakin University senior research fellow Dr Trina Hinkley.

Dr Hinkley, of the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, says two thirds of parents think screen time can have a positive effect, or no influence, on children aged two to five.

But research into TV viewing has found too much can be detrimental, not only to children’s weight but to their ­language and cognitive development, and ability to interact with others.

“We know some children are spending up to four hours a day on devices, and even more,” Dr Hinkley said.

Northcliffe kids Sacha Lawton, Jarrah Davies, Taj Winters and Jaime Lawton living it up on the beach.

“Parents seem to be fairly aware of the physical effects but not necessarily on other areas of development.”

Australian government guidelines advise kids over five years should have no more than two hours of entertainment-based screen time a day.

Dr Hinkley said the issue was even more critical now amid discussion about scrapping time limit recommendations in favour of a focus on content or media platforms.

Parenting blogger Nicole Avery, who runs the site Planning with Kids, tries to set one day a week as tech-free in school holidays, where the family might do a day trip.

“I find it really helpful to have a board set up with different ideas for the younger ones, they can choose non-technology related activities that they want to do,” she says.

South Melbourne mum Natalie Kringoudis, whose two children Geordie, 4, and Olivia, 7, both have iPads, says setting limits made them want to use the devices even more.

Instead she provides other activities as distractions, like art and craft, role playing and drawing, to encourage a good balance.

Parents keeping a tally of their child’s screen time could be shocked by the total.

Dr Trina Hinkley’s screen time tips for school holidays

1.Monitor your child’s screen time and tally it at week’s end. You might be surprised how much it adds up to.

2.Set goals. This week I will reduce my child’s screen time by 30 minutes by replacing one TV show with an adventure walk around the neighbourhood.

3.Why not replace a movie or some of their time on portable devices with an extra visit or two to your local park with a friend?

4.Instead of watching a movie in the car on those long road trips, why not play the numberplate game or I spy? Encourage your child to describe the things they see.

5.Instead of using TV or a DVD for quiet time try sitting with your child and reading a book.

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@ElissaDoherty