World Health Organisation Puts Cap On Kids❜ Screen Time Usage
- Parents Only
One hour a day is all the screen time kids should have each day. While children under the age of 1 shouldn't be exposed at all, according to the first ever guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation.
The United Nations agency agreed upon the guidelines in April 2019 and also recommended that children ages two to four have no more than one hour of "sedentary screen time" - including playing computer games or watching TV - per day.
The strict message is being sent out in the hope that young kids are encouraged to be physically active and get enough sleep - these are lifelong habits that can help prevent obesity and other diseases later in life.
Unplugged Play Time
"Achieving health for all means doing what is best for health right from the beginning of people's lives," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement. "Early childhood is a period of rapid development and a time when family lifestyle patterns can be adapted to boost health gains."
Screen time doesn't just affect our health, it affects our connections to family, with new research suggesting that we are spending more time 'alone together' than ever and this is having detrimental affects on kids' mental health and development.
Handing the phone or iPad over to your baby is officially a no-no with the WHO suggesting that parents should be prioritising creative, unplugged playtime for infants.
Three Board Games To Encourage Family Bonding And Activity
Twister: It's the game that adults AND kids love. Twister allows us to be active, have some good belly laughs and unleash the competitive family spirit. Who doesn't have fond memories of playing Twister as a kid? Suitable for ages: 6+ years
Connect 4 Shots: It's a traditional board game that has been updated to encourage movement. The Connect 4 Shots game is fast-paced, rapid-fire fun in a race to get 4 shots in a row, where two players bounce the lightweight, colorful balls into the grid at the same time. Connect 4 Shots is reccommended for kids 8+.
Guess Who: The original mystery face-guessing game is great for family team work. My family and I used to give the faces names of people we thought they looked like - this has hilarious consequences! Suitable for ages: 6+ years
Thanks to Hasbro: This article is brought to you in partnership with Hasbro Gaming, our Supporting Brand Partner for the Unplug & Play Initiative.
More Unplug and Play Fun:
- 6 of the Best Games For Developing Fine Motor Skills
- How To Host The Perfect Game Night With Friends And Family
- Tear Your Kids Away From Screens With This Fun New Hasbro Monopoly Game
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