Child Screen Time
We know that most of the country is on lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak and it can feel like the opportunities to participate in meaningful and educational activities are dwindling. Families will be spending more time together than ever before and while it can feel easy to hand your young learner a tablet or phone to play some games to pass the time, it is more important than ever to make sure to find ways to enrich your children’s minds without increasing the child’s screen time.
One of the pivotal aspects of Montessori education is that children learn practical skills that can help them become well-rounded, adaptive, and diversity appreciating world learners. Montessori Kids Universe Mason has embodied that philosophy in an effort to become the best daycare and preschool in Cincinnati. Learning doesn’t stop when our school day ends, so here are a few of our favorite alternatives to child screen time.
Stop and smell the roses
At our Montessori school, we know that freedom to explore what interests your young learner is the best way to build meaningful educational experiences. A nature walk is a great opportunity to allow your child to have the freedom to explore using their own mobility. When you go on a nature walk with your child it is important to let them walk at their own pace and to explore the things that interest them the most. This is a great way to decrease their child screen time.
Sing a song and dance a dance
Singing and dancing are key parts of any child’s life. Dancing allows for the development of key motor skills and singing songs is a great way for your child to learn something new. At Montessori Kids Universe Mason music plays a fundamental role in your child’s preschool education. Your child has an absorbent mind and listening to and making music while creating their own dance moves allows for creative exploration without restriction.
Cook with your children
Did you know that studies show that kids who help in the kitchen are more likely to be confident and adopt the mindset of “I can” rather than “I can’t”? Measuring and combining ingredients is a fantastic way for your child to begin developing key motor skills. The benefits of cooking with your child are numerous and if you want to learn more, we’ve written another blog on the topic.
Plant a garden
Gardening is another way to teach your child to value the natural world around them while teaching them important motor skills. It is good for your child to get fresh air and is another way to decrease their child screen time. It is important to start by planting seeds with your child so that they can watch the plant grow from the very beginning. It is also important to consider investing in child-size gardening tools so that your children can learn by doing throughout the process. We’ve got more tips and tricks for gardening with your child in our blog about the topic.
Make cleaning a game
With spring comes spring cleaning for many families. You can incentivize cleaning for your child by making it fun. Children love to emulate what their parents are doing, so by “letting” them help sweep (with a broom or mop that is their size) or by allowing them to clean their play table area, you can foster the development of practical skills in your child.
Child screen time isn’t a bad thing, it just needs to be used in moderation. Activities that involve the development of your child’s motor skills and allow them the freedom to explore and learn will be much more valuable to their long-term development. All of the activities at our Montessori-inspired preschool focus on letting your child learn meaningful and practical skills at their own pace.
Are you ready to learn more about our Montessori preschool in Cincinnati? You can schedule a tour with us by calling 513-466-8007 or by visiting our website.
We look forward to meeting you and your child! Stay in touch with us on Facebook and Instagram.
