Sten Kirkbak, father of four and co-founder of XPLORA, shares his thoughts on how parents can balance screen time with playtime.

Establish rules around screen time early on

Before giving your child their first smartphone, make sure that both you and your child learn about digital responsibility so that your child can fully understand and respect these boundaries. 【小题1】 They include not responding to texts from unknown numbers, never sharing their personal information online or with anyone they don't know, among others.

Make a contract for the whole family to agree to

【小题2】 It is a good way to better establish consistency, clarity and respect around screen time for both of you. It could cover everything from specific times when digital devices are off-limits to all family members, to agreeing on a selection of games that can be played without supervision.

What about parental controls?

When your child first begins to use their smartphone, establishing parental controls is a good idea. 【小题3】 But be sure to explain your reasoning for your controls to your child, so that they understand why they can't have access to some things.

【小题4】

Telling your child to avoid screens if you are constantly attached to one is likely to result in tension and frustration. As a parent, it's important to be a good role model for your child, not only with regards to technology but within everyday life.

Reinforce the value of physical play

I recommend finding ways to replace screen time with play and physical activity. 【小题5】By making the toys and games that your child looks forward to playing with accessible, they rely less on technology for passive entertainment.