Since our post “The Importance of Play“, we have received a few questions regarding the use of screen time. Here is a quick cheat sheet if you are in the middle of the screen time battle.
What is screen time?
Screen time refers to any sedentary activity involving the use of visual electronic media. Examples include: smart phones, tablets, computers, televisions, and video games. Little to no physical effort is utilized during screen time.
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If I asked you what children do, “play” would be one of the top 3 answers.
But what is play exactly? It’s more than just a child engaging with toys or running around with other kids. It’s real work.
Play can be defined as “any spontaneous or organized activity that provides enjoyment, entertainment, amusement, or diversion.” It is an occupation that is intrinsically driven by curiosity and exploration to interact within their surroundings. It allows for imagination, the ability to pretend with limited consequences, as well as the opportunity to share and act out ideas other with no judgment.
Notice that I said play was an occupation.
Yes, PLAY is an important job that a child does from birth to 12 years of age.
When a child plays:
Your child has survived the first two months of school and you think all is going well. Then, you receive the news that your child is struggling.
They are having difficulties sitting still in a chair or keeping their hands to themselves. Perhaps they keep dropping objects out of their hands or it takes them a long time to complete written assignments. Maybe they are consistently having meltdowns in class, having trouble attending to tasks, or even just listening to instructions.
As a parent, this is hard to hear. Are these difficulties something they’ll grow out of, or are they just clumsy? Is this a Nature vs. Nurture situation? Are the other kids doing it, too? You want to do what’s best for them, but not sure how to go about it or even how to personally relate.
Well, there are a few options that can help in the field of Occupational Therapy.
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Child(ish) Advice 