When my kid finishes school at 3:45, he usually asks for the family iPad. He’s also used to getting to watch a few episodes of TV while we make dinner. But I know we have to be more mindful of the cumulative screen-time totals. If he’s on a screen for school alllllll day, I really don’t want to allow him lots of tablet time after that . So I’m resolving to say no more often.
Being vigilant about a set bedtime can also help the body regulate melatonin release. More on that below.Because COVID-19 has upended our kids’ normal lives, it’s important to keep the evenings andas predictable as possible—even for older kids. All this time at home with multiple kids in virtual school can be loud and chaotic, with lots of big, roller coaster emotions. But kids thrive with boundaries, as hard as it is to enforce them right now.
“If it’s not clicking for your kid, or if you need more breaks, don’t put too much pressure on yourself.” Ultimately, I do think parents know their kids’ needs best, and if excessive screen time is making it hard for your kid to get the rest they need at night, or if they’re just too frustrated, antsy, or emotional to do virtual school for yet another long day, it’s perfectly reasonable to have a talk with the teacher about next steps. That might mean modifying the schedule or finding a compromise. It might mean taking a few mental-health days here and there, if possible.
Instead, I’m working on compassion: Compassion for myself, when I lose my patience with my children. Compassion for my kid, when he isn’t his… best self, let’s just say. And compassion for the teachers, who didn’t ask for a pandemic or remote learning, either.
I’m lucky that I have older kids, 16 & 12. I’ve done my best to keep them on a schedule. They still get up, eat & get dressed before classes start. I’ve not been letting them stay up later during the week. I couldn’t imagine trying to manage this with little ones.
Stop the electronics 2hrs before bed Have a bedtime routine Make sure they have mentally disengaged with their school work before getting in bed