Brian Baker, Hopscotch Technology CEO, wants us to make sure we’re setting limits along with buying technology for the kids.

Shopping for our kids’ holiday gifts can be a whimsical experience that reminds us of how much fun Christmas was when we were young. However, in the excitement of searching out the perfect gifts for our children, it is easy to forget that we, too, will have to live with the choices after the holidays are over. When it comes to the coveted electronics that are on so many lists this year, we need to remember to balance them with toys and presents that don’t involve screen time.

Although it’s exciting to watch as kids tear through the shiny gift wrapping to discover the latest video games, gaming systems and computers, we quickly come to realize that indeed many gifts can be SO intriguing for our children that homework, playing outdoors or spending time with the family become decidedly less exciting. The heartwarming vision of our children’s joy upon opening the gift is quickly replaced with the agonizing sight of the kids planted on the couch, staring at a screen for hours on end.

Kids consume more screen time now than ever before. (TV, video games, computer.) In fact, according to various sources, American children now consume 40 hours or more of screen time PER WEEK. This obsession becomes clearly evident following the holidays, when those new electronic gifts are swiftly broken in.

As parents, what are we to do? The temptation may be to rip that new video game system out of the wall and march it right back to the store that we bought it from. However, that would kind of make the whole process pointless, right? And none of us likes being the “bad guy” when it comes to making our kids happy during the holidays. So instead of all or nothing, it is time we take a more active role in balancing kids’ screen time consumption with other important activities.

Children do like—and need—boundaries, even if they rebel against them. It is our role as parents to implement those limits. Parents can take control by making family time a priority. We should ensure that our kids get at least one hour of physical exercise per day; working with them on homework and reading makes learning is an integral part of their routine. As painful as it may be, it is crucial to turn off the TVs, computers and video games to eat dinner as a family every night. The rewards will be evident for everyone involved.

Although it requires energy to monitor their time, our kids should be able to enjoy their new electronic toys and games this holiday season. After all, we are living in a time of great technological advancement, and it would be a shame to miss out on the latest and greatest video games or computer products. However, we must make it a priority to help kids understand that these diversions are just that, and should not turn into hefty habits. It is essential that we balance kids’ screen time, so the other important things in life don’t get lost in cyberspace.

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This entry was posted on Friday, December 21st, 2007 at 2:16 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.