Editor's Note: As a counterpoint to the potential benefits of Pokemon GO, this article digs into the risks of technology addiction and how to maintain a reasonable amount of screen time for your child.
Ever since Nintendo made the Pokemon Go video-game app available, young people, The Boy included, have been exploring their communities with their eyes firmly fixed on their smartphones and not on the wonders of the world.
If endless hours spent capturing imaginary creatures seems like an electronic addiction, it very well may be, but that’s nothing new. Many children have been plugged into electronic devices for a long time now, rarely looking up as they help virtual animals save the day, keep race cars on track and watch endless loops of videos on YouTube.
And that can be a concern, says Elaine Fogel Schneider, PhD, a therapist and author of 7 Strategies for Raising Calm, Inspired & Successful Children (www.askdrelaine.com).
“They are so attached to technology at such an early age and it’s changing their brain circuitry,” Schneider says. “They begin to lose the back and forth communication with their parents and/or siblings and the notion of empathy. For really young children, these devices have become the babysitter. I fully understand that parents need a break (as do grandparents), but there have to be limits.”
Schneider has tips for parents who worry about how they can control their child’s electronic pastime.
Set rules.
Limit the amount of time your child can spend on an electronic device and be consistent in enforcing those rules. This way your child knows that when you say he or she only has two minutes left, then there really is only two minutes left, not three or four hours.
The Mister and I set a three-hour screen limit for summer, reducing by 15 minutes as the beginning of school approaches. It is NOT a pretty sight, seeing a teenage boy snapping when he has to unplug.
Use a timer.
A timer does not “lie” and can take the blame away from you when you’re limiting your child’s time on the device. Use the timer that measures down the time your child is spending on the tablet, smartphone and/or technological game so that your child knows the end for using that device is approaching and it won’t be a surprise when time is up. You can even have your child select a tone on the smartphone that he or she likes.
If I’m in the garden, The Mister is out, and The Boy is holed at his “command center” there’s a huge chance The Boy will ignore the beep of his phone. We all set timers so that we can cut screen time.
Be ready with another activity.
Plan an alternative way of engaging your child so when the device is turned off, some other interest can take his or her mind off the electronic device. “Describe what you’re going to do so the child’s interest is piqued into doing something else that he or she enjoys,” Schneider says.
The Boy has been my helper in the yard and my assistant in the kitchen. With The Mister, he has taken on a few more duties in church. It was and remains a struggle, but I see a huge difference in his attention span when we’re consistent with limited screen time.
Use these tips in your home at first.
As with everything, at first there’s a learning curve, so there may be tantrums, tears, melt downs and even depression. That’s why Schneider recommends following these tips at home first. “I wouldn’t think of trying this out in public right away since I don’t think you want to endure the wrath or glances of diners or shoppers as they hear your child scream,” Schneider says. In time, though, the child will know what is expected, she says, and will be able to disconnect from a smartphone, tablet, or other electronic device without major meltdowns.
I always had a no-screen rule in the car. Pokemon Go has been the exception. The Boy will catch nearby Pokemon while my eyes are on the road.
“In the long run, you’re doing a service for your child by limiting the amount of time spent on an electronic device,” Schneider says. “I can remember hearing my own mother’s words, ‘I’m doing this for your own good!’ And that’s really true.”
About Elaine Fogel Schneider, PhD
Elaine Fogel Schneider, author of the Amazon bestseller 7 Strategies for Raising Calm, Inspired & Successful Children (www.askdrelaine.com), is one of the country’s leading authorities on touch therapy and founder of Baby Steps, preparing young children for educational readiness and providing parent coaching. As a sought-after speaker and trainer, she offers interactive presentations and workshops for educators, parents and healthcare professionals.
Raya Fagg is a mom of two from Upper Darby, PA. This post is adapted from her blog, And Starring As Herself…MRSRFKJ. 
