Children’s Activities: Reduce Screen Time
Reducing screen time for children is another way to help prevent childhood obesity. When children spend less time in front of a screen, they learn valuable social skills. They interact with their peers and the adults around them.
It’s important to be a good role model. Participate in children’s activities and games as much as possible. Limit cell phone and computer use.
- Creative Ideas to Reduce Screen Time
- Act out stories or skits: Hand out a variety of costume pieces and have children dress up.
- Get crafty: Provide coloring sheets or make greeting cards for upcoming holidays or birthdays.
- Enlist their help: Involve children in part of meal and snack preparation, as well as clean-up.
- Play music: Have children make up their own dances. Add ribbons and beach balls for more movement.
- Puzzle time: Have easy puzzles available that children can do alone or in pairs.
- Surprise them: Put together a bag or box containing activities that children don’t normally do. This will keep the children busy during times you need to do other tasks.
For more ideas, download Nutrition and Wellness Tips for Young Children: Provider Handbook for the Child and Adult Care Food Program – Limit Screen Time (PDF)
- Interactive Educational Games
Digital media can support children’s learning when the games are interactive. Interactive games are designed to simultaneously teach and entertain your kids. Although our goal is to reduce screen time, it is important for providers and families to understand which types of digital media sources are beneficial for a child’s cognitive development. Below is a list of interactive nutritional games your kids will enjoy.