Archive for month: October, 2019

As technology advances, technology addictions are increasing and they’re affecting children at an alarming rate. Even small children are impacted, children with technology addictions are more to prone to having tantrums when they’re away from their devices, having negative attitudes about being active, and having codependency towards their devices.

Other effects of technology addiction in children include: falling more easily to peer pressure; seeing inappropriate material; getting bullied, poor social skills; aggressive behavior; sleep problems; and difficulty paying attention. While it’s important to catch the warning signs, it’s just as important to prevent a technology addiction in the first place.

Here are some key tips on how to prevent your child’s technology addiction!

1. Don’t replace their boredom with devices

When you give your child an electronic device when they’re bored, sad, or mad, you’re building a reliance to make all their worries go away. As an alternative, focus on getting your child interested in a healthier hobby, such as extracurricular activities at school. Hobbies can positively affect a child by relieving their stress, teaching them how to express themselves, build self-esteem, and strengthening their social skills.

2. Plan more outdoor time

Today’s children are spending less time outdoors than they should because of their devices. According to the National Recreation and Park Association, “children today spend less time outdoors than other generations, devoting only four to seven minutes to unstructured outdoor play per day while spending an average of seven and a half hours in front of electronic media.” This has led to increasing rates in child obesity, and it can cause numerous health problems. Push your children to play more outside. Check out your local playground, kick a ball around your backyard, or plan a fun weekend at an amusement park. Children will enjoy staying active while getting some fresh air.

3. Set guideline for priorities before screen time

Enforce the concept that screen time is a privilege, and not a necessity in your child’s life. Make your child used to the idea that they need to complete their chores, finish their homework, and any other obligations before they hop on their devices. It’ll help your child learn that taking care of their responsibilities comes before the fun.

4. Consider your own time spent on technology

If your child notices that you cling to your technology as well, it will become the standard for them. In a study conducted by the Pew Research Center, 46% of adults believe that they couldn’t live without their smartphones. That’s why it’s important to monitor the time you spend on your own phone and set a good example for your child. Instead of phone time, spend quality time a family.

Technology at Creative Child Learning Center

At Creative Child Learning Center, we urge our children to be more interactive with their peers by limiting the time they spend on the computer and encouraging more outdoor play. We support the importance of cultivating their social skills and being more active at such a developmental period. We provide children with opportunities to start new hobbies by incorporating music, art, and crafts into their curriculum.

Almost every parent has heard of the “terrible twos,” a developmental stage where children experience a quick shift in mood and behavior that cause problems for parents.

It’s easy to dismiss the child’s behavior as merely throwing a tantrum. However, we must be mindful that the child is undergoing many changes simultaneously. At this age, children start to develop their sense of self and independence, causing their imaginations to run wild. They are also just learning to be more mobile, so they instinctually want to test their boundaries and explore the world around them.

Here Are 5 Tips That Can Help You Get Through Your Child’s Terrible Two’s:

1. Be aware of your child’s emotions:

Keep in mind that your two-year-old’s brain is still in development. The amount of stress a toddler’s brain goes through at this stage is often overlooked, and parents can easily forget that their child doesn’t have the capacity to manage all their emotions. It’s important to remember this when parenting your two-year-old because your child will feel valued by your efforts to sympathize.

2. Make notes and address their behavior:

If you see that your child has done something wrong, talk to your child to see why they might be acting that way. Afterwards, make a note of it so you have an understanding and a solution the next time a situation like this occurs. This is also a convenient way to pass this information along to your caregivers so they have guidance on how to deal with your child’s tantrums when you’re not around.

3. Have regular meal and nap times:

Your child’s tantrums usually occur because your child’s needs are being unmet. Like infants, toddlers get highly irritable when they’re hungry, tired, or stressed by change. And just like adults, toddlers can sense when their daily routines are out of whack. As a parent, make sure your child has a steady schedule of nap and mealtimes, and avoid planning any moves around those times.

4. Don’t take it personal:

No parent is perfect. Parenting is one of those things you learn as your child grows because every child is different and has different temperaments. If your child seems more aggressive than their fellow classmates, don’t compare the two. Your child’s tantrums are not a reflection of your parenthood. Also, be mindful that children respond to environments differently and conditions that suit one child may not suit another.

5. Keep the yelling at a minimum:

Dealing with a child’s temper tantrums can be extremely frustrating. However, yelling at your child will not prevent them from having one and can even be detrimental to their development. Yelling at them can make them want to push you away. It also  could lead to copycat behavior, such as yelling at their classmates because they think that’s an appropriate way to get their point across.

At CCLC:

At Creative Child Learning Centers, we pride ourselves in treating each of our students individually with understanding, patience, and diligence. We acknowledge the fact that the emotional progression and maturity of each child will differ, so we offer an individualized learning plan for each child that will be best suited for their special needs.