🫠Your child gets agitated or dysregulated during screen time, what can you do?
🤯As you watch this, notice that we can address behavior and put in consequences without being punitive and without blaming the screen. In fact, the word “screen/video game” isn’t said a single time in this video. Why? Because the point isn’t to blame the screen. The point is to help kids build the skills of recognizing and addressing their needs. This could apply to screen time but also to any potentially activating activity.
🛑All families are different. Take what would work for your family, change it to fit your needs, leave the rest. These are ideas, not a strict script you have to follow
⏰When possible, be proactive. Yes, you may not be able to do this most of the time. But, when you can, tell them what you’re noticing in their body or behavior. It takes years to build these skills and concentrating on a screen can make it harder to notice. It’s a lot easier to address emotions before they get overwhelming.
💪🏼Give options but allow for choice. Depending on the age or development or needs of your child, they may do well with options or they may want to decide for themselves. You can experiment to see what works for them.
🤔I personally try to avoid weighing in about the choice they make. I have my own opinion but I try to keep it to myself. I want my kid to be making a choice and figuring out if it works for them, not feeling like their choices need to be approved by me. If my child had chosen to sit and be angry for 8 minutes instead of playing, that choice is still theirs to make. Having me judge it isn’t going to help the situation.
👨👨👦👦Celebrate their victories as much as possible. Do we have to share their enthusiasm for Minecraft? No. But we can cheer them on all the same. Then, in a calm moment, we can reflect with them about how things felt, what worked or didn’t, and what they can do next time.
