In a world full of smartphones, smart TVs, and even smart refrigerators, it’s inevitable that your child will be introduced to technology. As a parent, you want to introduce your child in a safe and responsible manner. Lake Forrest Prep, an Orlando private school, wants to help you teach your child how to use technology.

Keeping It PG
It’s important to stay involved in as your child navigates their electronic devices. You want to create a balanced exposure. Try to keep screens in family areas, so it’s easier to monitor your child’s usage. Engage with your child’s use of their smartphone or gaming system. Ask questions about the apps they’re using or the games their playing and make sure to enforce the 20-20-20 rule. For every 20 minutes of screen use, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

Limiting Screen Time
If your job requires staring at a computer screen for eight hours a day, then you know the negative effects of too much screen time. The blue light can disrupt your body’s natural melatonin production, leading to trouble sleeping. Jeannie Galindo, supervisor of instructional technology for the Manatee County School District, recommends limiting screen time to no more than an hour at a time for six and seven years old. For high school students, Galindo recommends two hours a sitting — but only if gaming is the focus of the interaction.

Lead By Example
If you sit at the dinner table on your phone, watch TV while scrolling through Twitter, or are constantly answering emails — work-related or not — it’s going to be difficult to enforce your child to limit their screen time. Your child will follow your lead on their tech habits, so try to show them that technology isn’t the most important thing in the world.
Introducing your children to technology can be difficult, but with these tips, you can teach them to use it responsibly. Lake Forrest Prep, an Orlando private school, can help your child form healthy habits. Our preschool through middle school curriculum will challenge your child academically while nurturing their inquisitive nature and unique personalities. Contact us today to schedule a school tour.