We need to teach young children how to form healthy media habits, from the outset. Banning technology is not the solution. We need to inform parents about the best ways to use these devices with young children. What does ‘healthy media use’ look like?
4. Let a child see for himself that being out enjoying life is better than being stuck in front of a computer screen. I’ve got a 4-year-old girl and a 3-year-old boy, and I take them outside constantly. They play with bikes, they hang out in the sandbox, they paint, they do train tracks, explore the woods, and burn calories outside like nobody’sbusiness. My daughter also got a little tablet for Christmas where she can do littleeducational games. I just let her on it for a while and she, on her own, decided that she’s only good for about a half-hour or less on it before she decides she’d rather be somewhere else running around with her brother. And now, that decision of “I’ve had enough” is entirely under her control – which is where I want it anyhow, as a parent.