Have you read about how Chinese authorities are proposing a daily 2-hour limit on mobile phone usage for teens? This latest guideline by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) was published last Wednesday Aug 2, and states that youth between the ages of 16 and 18 would only be able to use the internet for two hours a day.

According to news sources such as ABC News and CNBC News, the guidelines further stipulate that minors would not be allowed to use most internet services on mobile devices from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. In addition, children between the ages of 8 and 15 would be allowed only an hour a day, while those under 8 would only be allowed 40 minutes.

Naturally, there are a few exemptions from these time-restrictions, though specific apps and products were not listed by the CAC. The drafted regulation proposes that mobile devices have a “minor mode” for those under 18 years of age, allowing parents to manage and supervise the content. On top of cooperation from parents, companies in China are expected to be responsible for enforcing regulations.

The country’s popular video streaming platforms such as Douyin and Bilibili currently offer youth modes that restrict the type of content shown to minors, as well as how long they can stay on the app. Children are also shown educational content like science experiments.

This isn’t the first time that China has made a move to curb the populace’s growing appetite for digital products and services. Back in 2021, authorities passed regulations that restricted youths below 18 years of age to playing online video games for a maximum of three hours per week.

Personally, I can appreciate the good intentions behind the government advisory. I also understand how tricky it can be to enforce such regulations, and thus believe more in self-motivation of both the parent and child to regulate their own device usage. Specifically for Beijing, developing holistic education outside of traditional curriculum; where youth embrace nature and activity as much as books and malls, would make a difference in kids’ online habits.

These guidelines have yet to be passed as law and are currently open to public forum until Sep 2. What are your thoughts on this regulation – yay or nay? Share with us in the comments below!

KEEP READING: Caging the Predator: How the Gaming Industry Targets Your Kids

Images: Pexels

I brought my kid for a health check up recently and was horrified to discover he couldn’t pass the eye exam. Having had to wear glasses from a young age myself (the age my own kid is at right now actually), and being predisposed to myopia thanks to my Asian genes, I can’t help but feel somewhat guilty that my child has possibly inherited my short-sightedness.

Luckily, at such a tender age, kids’ bodies are still growing and adapting, and the die is yet to be cast.

Back when I was first diagnosed with myopia, my parents had me attend an eyesight camp (yes I kid you not) where I was taught eye exercises and even given a pair of pinhole glasses that would supposedly help reverse the diagnosis.

I am happy to share anecdotal evidence that a reduction in screen time and more outdoor exercise can truly help improve kids’ eyesight. After a similar diagnosis at an annual health check up, a friend of mine cut back on her child’s screen time, and pushed him to be more active. At the following year’s health check up, he received a 20/20 on his eye exam.

But with online learning in full swing for now, it may be tough to decree a reduction in screen time. That said, here are 5 ways you can still help your kid to prevent eye strain, which quickly lead to eyesight problems.

1. Schedule drinking breaks every hour

Proper hydration benefits just about every part of our bodies, and our eyes are no different. Plus, every time the child has to drink is an opportunity to turn away from the screen, if even for a few seconds. Since it’s way too much to ask a parent to yell across the house every hour for the kid to drink, set up an hourly alarm on a personal device such as the iPad to remind the kid to hydrate.

2. Snack time! 

Everyone knows we should eat carrots (or just orange foods) for bright eyes (it’s the beta-carotene and vitamin A in them), but there’s so many more foods that are rich in antioxidants that will aid our eye health. Kid faves include eggs (lutein), broccoli, red berries, kiwi fruit, tomatoes (all for Vitamin C), and fatty fish like salmon and sardines (EFA – essential fatty acids).

3. Look at greens!

So aside from eating their greens, now kids have to look at the color too! Research has proven that the richness of the color green is both mentally calming and spirit-lifting. Ideally, you can look at the natural green of nature around you, whether it’s a house plant or a nearby park, but even an artificial green color (like a wall painted green) can also help.

4. Eye exercises 

Whenever you can, grab a quick minute with your child and do some of these simple eye exercises together. Some of these also serve a mini-meditation breaks so it’s a win-win!

Moving eyeballs 

Call out different directions to move your eyeballs in – left, right, up, down, in a circle clockwise and counter etc. After you’ve demonstrated enough times, get your child to call out the direction to get them more involved.

Near and far

This one was one that I remember from eyesight camp! Go to a window and look for the furthest thing you can see, focus on it for about 5 breaths, then without moving your body, focus your gaze on the nearest object to you for 5 breaths again. Repeat as many times as necessary.

Blink, don’t blink

The straightforward idea of this is just to blink at different speeds (slow, fast) and not blink (eyes open). I love making a game out of this one with the kid to see who blinks first while we’re staring at each other.

After whichever eye exercise you do with your kids, close your eyes for about 10 breaths before resuming your day.

5. Massage 

Face massages aren’t just for sculpting the face, they’re also amazing for relieving the tension from the delicate facial muscles that work so hard. Check out the video for a simple demonstration of DIY face massage to help eye strain. Another good part to try to massage would be the base of the head where it meets the spine. You don’t have to be a certified masseuse to help your child. Just use your fingers to gently rub in circular motions and expand outwards from one spot for a minute or so. This can be a great way to help ease kids into bedtime as well!

KEEP READING: Online Learning Tips From Beijing’s International School Students

Images: Pexels

Nearly every article on screentime for kids says that parents must model good behavior. Every time that’s brought up, I feel guilty for the time I spend on my phone in front of my kids. So when I heard that beijingkids needed someone to try a no phone retreat, I volunteered. I knew I would only follow through with it if I had to write about it.

A little background so you might understand why it’s so hard for me not to use my phone: I used to work in social media marketing and often live-tweeted events. I’m the one at every baby shower and birthday party who has their phone out to catch the important moments. I taught executives at all levels and all ages that if there isn’t a photo, it didn’t happen. Once my kids got out of their respective baby phases, I didn’t feel the need to capture every burp for their grandparents across the country; before that, however, I am very guilty of taking a photo to commemorate all the mini-milestones.

You can’t swing with a phone in your hand!

Since they’ve gotten older, I’ve worked hard to take fewer pictures and just live in the moment. That independence comes with a weird balance though, because they don’t need me to play with them as much and thus I have more time to browse the news at a park.

I eased myself into a no-phone retreat by not looking at my phone while we did homework. My kids are just getting used to homework so they need guidance for the hour a day we spend on it. I did have to stop myself from reaching for my phone a few times, but for that week, I was much more present and helpful to my children. Even when I had to check the homework app for help on the next assignment, I didn’t want to. And shocker! The only important message I missed was planning dinner with my husband. But we figured that out each day a little earlier or later with no big fuss.

Another way I helped this cause was by changing my notifications: I don’t get a preview of the message and so am not as tempted to check it. I also removed some of the more intrusive apps and thus had to physically go to them to see if I had a message, versus opening them every single time those little “dings” came into my life.

Then came the big day. We were headed to a hiking trip near Mutianyu. I didn’t need directions, I didn’t really need my phone for anything except distraction. My original plan had been to take my real camera and not use my phone even for that, but I forgot to charge the battery so I needed a Plan B. I just set my phone to airplane mode before we got off the bus. It would be a four to six-hour trip, which was surely enough time to test all these theories.

No angry birds were around to disturb our real-life exploring.

The closer we got to our destination, the antsier about it I was. I briefed my husband on the plan to keep me more accountable. I didn’t know how worried I was that I wouldn’t be able to handle it until the words came out of my mouth. In a way, this retreat was at a time that made it easier; I had the week off for Golden Week and no one expected me to be available. I decided to make it official there, too. I sent a photo and reminded my team that this was my “no phone retreat” day. Now it was really official. I had no excuse.

Turns out, I didn’t need one. We had lots of new families to meet and the kids were so thrilled to be out in nature that they demanded our full attention, and there was nowhere else I wanted to be. I devoted myself entirely to being their playground monster and rock hopping helper. When we got to a large rock and some kids were swimming, I laid my head on my backpack, my four-year-old laid down on me, and we just talked. He told me whatever was on his little mind and we spoke like the best of friends. I didn’t even take a lot of pictures. I just leaned into every moment and appreciated that my mind could wander without direction and nothing I saw or did had to be distilled into a “Moment” or a “Story.”

Since that day, it’s been a lot easier for me to leave my phone in another room, or keep it silent on the other side of the apartment. I haven’t felt the need to have my phone near me every hour of the day. We’ve read books each day for at least twice as long as we normally do. And when I need to sit down and simply write, or work, or both, I can accomplish these tasks in a shorter amount of time because, well, I don’t feel the obsession to check my phone for any little alert. It can all happen in its own time and I will be there when necessary, not before.

KEEP READING: Weaning Kids Off Screen Time Post-COVID

Photos: Cindy Marie and Dan Jenkins

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 November issue

Screen time was a hot topic before 2020, but now it is everywhere. Since school went online last winter, screens became a necessity and not a preference. In fact, computer sales rose between five and 17% for the biggest companies according to Forbes, although they don’t expect the increases to continue as it was just for the short-term needs of online learning. Even though we eased back to school and away from online learning this fall, there is almost no way to avoid screen time of any sort. Even when kids aren’t doing online learning, their homework is half online.

If you aren’t totally against screen time and just need it in moderation, there are a few tactics to try. As with any type of parenting “advice,” these are suggestions based on other families’ experiences, and you shouldn’t feel guilty if the one you wish would work for your kids doesn’t. People are different, situations are different, what you can mentally handle is different. Think of it like potty training: You might want to do the “three days and done” method, but your kids have other ideas. The important thing is that you stick with it, whichever method you choose. And please don’t take the fact that I wrote this article as evidence that I have it all figured out either. What works for my family now may get turned on its head next week! So best to have a few ideas in your back pocket:

Lock it up but don’t throw away the key

Cold Turkey

Beijing expat mom Tara Gillan got to a point at the beginning of this summer where she didn’t think she had any other option. After months of online learning with her nine and 11-year-old, they’d tried setting boundaries but she felt the devices were dictating her children’s choices. They consistently chose games over family time or playdates and Tara had a realization that she just had to remove the obsession from her kids’ sights. “I gathered up all our devices and locked them away in my office,” she said. “They just had to go, away from their temptation. Both my sons had a month with no devices in the house. In the beginning, there was a lot of “I’m bored” but that subsided after a few days. Bored is good! It allowed my children to have quiet and calm moments, generated creativity as they needed to entertain themselves, and they had the choice to make their own decisions on how to spend their time.”

20 Minutes at a Time

This was our way. As proud as I was for my three-year-old to master Animal Crossing and Super Mario Maker 2 in quarantine (eye roll), he was way too attached to his games. My six-year-old played but mostly out of boredom. Once we were out of all our quarantines and could leave the house, it was very apparent that our youngest needed structure.

Rather than eliminate his quarantine coping mechanism completely, which might have worked if he was older, I talked to both of them and started limiting their time on it. They got 20 minutes before noon and 20 minutes while I made dinner. It was hard at first, but as long as I gave them fair warnings and counted down the time until they had to stop, meltdowns were at a minimum. Occasionally they’d bargain for more time and sometimes I’d give it, but those were exceptions. One other known exception was if I had a Zoom meeting; then they could play or watch curated videos for the hour I was on the call. But as long as we were open about how much time they got and the reason, and I stuck to my word, they went along with it. Now that school started, they have only asked to play video games a few times, and that was if we could all play as a family.

Set up Parental Controls

One Mom of a seven-year-old who asked to remain anonymous says they use strict parent controls on their daughter’s iPad, and “even if the restrictions are turned off there are time limits on specific apps for how long she can play them. Epic and Sora are always allowed because we want to encourage reading but we limit the games and Netflix to only short times, usually on weekends.”

That’s also how Gillan returned her son’s devices into their lives: with strict boundaries. “The children do have their laptops back now, [on]weekdays for school but with parental software installed.” I found some parental controls for games clunky but appreciate the ones where an alarm for the time limits go off on my phone and their device. I also use website blockers so they can watch their favorite gamers play Minecraft, but not Fortnite or Five Nights at Freddie’s, for example. (It does get tricky when gamers build Fortnite inside of Minecraft, so keep a keen eye.)

I was able to come to an agreement with my oldest on his online video viewing: he either only watches the kids’ version or I use website blockers and we talk through why it isn’t appropriate for him yet. Explaining why we don’t want him to watch or play certain content has put some of the responsibility for keeping his screen time on his own critical thinking skills, and at least once a week he pulls me over to review a video and discuss what they’re doing in it.

Get a Big Clock

This was honestly a gamechanger for us. If you don’t have a clock on the wall, get a nice big one with numbers on it and hang it for everyone to see. Showing kids how much time they have and exactly when their screen time will end makes it more concrete to them. My youngest confused seconds with minutes, because seconds are an easier way for him to quantify time, as it’s just counting. The clock helped him understand that I was giving him way more time to play than he thought I was and has also turned into a nice tool to teach multiplication: how many seconds are in twenty minutes? To a four-year-old, 1,200 seconds is a lot of time!

Make a Rewards System

Mom Weslyna Griffith has three kids aged 15, 13, and two and a half. She offers them reward points, so “each chore done is one to two points and accumulated points equal screen time.” She’s quick to specify that it only works for her older kids though, so she uses other methods to help her toddler regulate his screen time.

A simpler method for screen time lies in the art of negotiation. They ask for their screen time and a parent can set milestones before a device can be turned on: Put all of your toys away first or put your clean clothes away. After school, we have no screen time until their lunch containers are in the sink and homework is out of their bag, for instance. Whether formal or informal rewards work for your child, it can help express that screen time is a privilege.

Here the kids merged Catan Jr with Dinosaur Escape

Give Them an Alternative

I did it when I quit smoking, the kids did it when I weaned them off bottles: for a while, people need a not-as-addictive alternative. We transitioned their love of gaming towards board games. There are lots of good ones for all ages! Before that, it was card games. As with most activities, you need to start by playing with them, to show them the ropes. Once they get the idea, however, it’s shocking how independent kids can be, which can give you the precious time you need when they’re usually watching or playing on a screen. The key here is to not care if they’re playing by the real rules or if they make up their own, as long as their rules are fair to all players, and they put all the pieces away at the end of the playtime.

Don’t Default to TV

We used to treat them to some “Scooby-Doo” or another cartoon while they woke up and got ready for school. The longer they’re in school, the less they immediately turn on the television in the morning. They wake up and I tell them how long they have to eat breakfast, how long until we get them dressed, etc. (there’s that clock again) and that prompts them more to play with each other than watching a show. Once or twice a week they will want a show, but it isn’t nearly as often and that’s been their choice.

No one wants to be a Gollum

Show Them Lord of the Rings

Seriously. When our oldest was introduced to Gollum and saw how The One Ring affected Frodo’s brain to make him make bad choices (it helps that he’s really into neurons right now), he kept asking questions and we answered them all. Neither my husband nor I outright said that the addiction of the ring is like the addiction of video games; that’s a connection he made himself. Ever since then, he sets his own screen time limits and tells people how feeling like you need something that badly is not good for you and you’ll make bad choices.

If you’re not Tolkien people, or that’s a little too intense, there are lots of other kids’ stories where the characters struggle with an obsession. Sometimes they just need to see it in a different context to understand its impact.

KEEP READING: Remotely Controlled Kids: The Real Impact of Too Much Screen Time

Photos: pexels, goodfreephotos, Cindy Marie Jenkins

“I feel that if we in public television can only make it clear that feelings are mentionable and manageable, we will have done a great service for mental health”

– Fred Rogers 1969

Last week I sat and watched a documentary about the transformative and inspirational impact of one of America’s longest-running and most loved children’s television programs. The film tells the story behind the origins and conceptualization of the show, Mister Rogers’ Neighbourhood, and its equally inspiring and beloved creator and host, Fred Rogers.

Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood was littered with relatable parables for kids that spoke of the importance of acceptance, compassion, and integrity. The show not only demonstrated these seemingly loaded virtues with simplicity and flair, but also dealt with the inner workings of human emotions: how and what tools can be used to deal with anger, sadness, and love for yourself and others.

I thought to myself what a rare beacon of light this show must have been to thousands, and how contemporary children’s viewing matched in comparison. The program reflected shifting societal attitudes and the political climate of the time, often combating old tropes regarding race and gender, and purposefully running a moral commentary on the woes, angst, and social responsibility of a nation that underwent some of the most radical changes and socio-political turmoil of the 21st Century. The host and the show were in turn radical in their approach to contending with pressing issues such as discrimination, terrorism, and financial cuts to children’s programming. 

Mister Rogers shared his garden paddling pool with the African-American neighborhood cop on the show, at a time when the nation was enforcing segregation in public pools. In 1969 he addressed the US Senate Subcommittee on Communication to defend public television from budget cuts and appeal for 20 million dollars in funding. This he did during an era of austerity for the public television industry and won, and in 2001, using evocative melodies on his piano, he encouraged and uplifted families across the nation in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

Rogers won the 1969 case because the message of his show was too important to society and the values that needed to be upheld, when hope was deficient in the lives of so many. His show helped shape the hearts and minds of a generation of little ones and their families. What can be said for what’s on offer today for our kids?

We of course want to encourage educational viewing in our homes for the whole family, especially growing children, whose minds are developing at startling rates each day. There is a growing demand for more educational children’s programming, some of which has been met with more dynamic and versatile TV viewing options for kids. However, after looking into the historical, social, and personal impact of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, the imprint of its messages within the home of millions remains unrivaled and its approach unsurpassed. 

One moment in the documentary filled me with utter longing for a program like this one to exist in our time. When addressing the US Senate, Mr Rogers asked, “Could I tell you the words of one of the songs, which I feel is very important?” He went on to say, “This has to do with that good feeling of control which I feel that children need to know is there. And it starts out, ‘What do you do with the mad that you feel?’”

He then recited the following:

What do you do with the mad that you feel? When you feel so mad you could bite. When the whole wide world seems oh so wrong, and nothing you do seems very right. What do you do? Do you punch a bag? Do you pound some clay or some dough? Do you round up friends for a game of tag or see how fast you go? It’s great to be able to stop when you’ve planned the thing that’s wrong. And be able to do something else instead – and think this song –

“I can stop when I want to. Can stop when I wish. Can stop, stop, stop, anytime… And know that the feeling is really mine. Know that there’s something deep inside that helps us become what we can…”

With the onslaught of on-screen violence and special effects, I believe Mr Rogers was acutely aware of the future that was to come for children’s television. “We don’t have to bob somebody over the head to…make drama on the screen”, he once said. Hidden deep within his message was the quiet observation and acknowledgement that shows such as his would soon be heavily competing and vying for the attention of little ones, as mainstream private children’s networks took over the airwaves with jump-cut editing, slapstick violence, and message-less narratives. 

That’s not to say that public media hasn’t continued to successfully provide educational programming which remains popular and trusted. And many politicians still oppose the elimination of federal funding for public television in America. Unfortunately American President, Donald Trump, like his predecessor Nixon did in 1969, is trying to pull all federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which supports networks such as NPR and PBS. 

Mr Rogers died in 2003, but not before being honored with a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame and the rerun syndication of 900 episodes of his show on PBS. Tom Hanks has recently brought to life the beloved advocate for kindness, in a new movie titled, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. Based on true events, the film tells the story of reporter Tom Junod’s real-life friendship with Rogers, which began when he wrote an article about the TV personality. He and his show have been sorely missed, and as a newbie to his creative output, I for one can’t imagine who would be able to so eloquently fight for the rights of children to access quality-driven public media the way he so passionately did. 

With that I’ll leave you with the “expression of care” Mr Rogers gave to each child he spoke to through the television screen at the end of each episode, to help them realize their uniqueness:

“You’ve made this day a special day. By just your being you. There’s no person in the whole wide world like you, and I like you, just the way you are.” 

Photos: www.92y.org, www.slate.com

Looking for a fun opportunity for the family to incorporate a daily focus on healthy technology use at home? Well, March is Media Mentor Month, and in this increasingly digitized world, parenting arguably necessitates moms and dads taking an intentional lead when it comes to monitoring their child’s access to the Internet.

“True screen wisdom is about relationships. It’s about the kinds of connections we have with one another. It’s about trust. And balance”

Devorah Heitner

The Internet is by no means the boogeyman and has opened up a world of possibilities, including increased mobility and global connectedness. However digital technology is a double-edged sword and comes with its own set of dangers. Distressing and inappropriate images, cyberbullying, trolling, addiction, and a plethora of other disconcerting issues surrounding the use of technology are key concerns that raise important questions for any parent.

Created by Keri-Lee Beasley and Daniel Johnston for World Academy Switzerland, March is designated as Media Mentor Month with a calendar of suggested activities in English for parents to use as ways to engage with digital guidelines for their household and learn how their kids can better use their digital devices safely and enjoyably.

Suggested activities for families include:
– “Check your child(ren)’s YouTube settings and help them change to Safe Search”
– “Get your child to teach you how to do something new on your phone/device”
– “Take a selfie with your child. You might want to try out Snapchat or Instagram filters just for fun!”
– “Look up the laws for digital streaming in the country you live in & have a family discussion. Then watch a movie together – legally”

The initiative aims to help parents develop a positive relationship with their children around digital technologies. Mentoring our children goes beyond academic achievement, healthy eating, and exercise; parents can also mentor their kids in their digital world.

So if you don’t exactly know how to go about that, Media Mentor Month is for you and will provide parents with some ideas and strategies to help foster and develop the right kind of relationships with their kids and their use of digital devices. No matter how you choose to participate, try and share some photos of your family engaging with the challenges on social media, and don’t forget the hashtag #MediaMentorMonth.

Happy selfie-taking, surfing, and gramming!

Photos: Pixabay

It never occurred to me to look into the damage that can be caused by simply watching more television than one should or spending too much time using multiple devices. Television has and will most likely continue to be a pastime that transcends all or most generations. The nature of television continues to evolve and adapt to the times in which we live; becoming more interactive by the year and keeping us all up to date with information pertaining to every whim popular culture decides is relevant to our lives, keeping our children entertained and enthralled and of course providing an electronic oasis of escapism for whoever needs or wants it.

Growing up with a little brother with special needs who was obsessed with Scooby Doo is what first brought my attention to a book entitled, Remotely Controlled. My brother was not only obsessed with watching this and other similarly paced cartoons, but it was his behavior during and after these colorful episodes that made me conscious about the harm they could be doing. A lot of my brothers’ obsession with cartoons had every bit to do with the need they met to not only provide entertainment but also function as a source of repetition that a child on the spectrum so craves.

We all have come to learn, of course, that the digital age and its many partners in crime; smartphones, tablets, and laptops – have made addicts of us. If the somewhat well-rounded, educated individual can become addicted to screen time what could be the potential impact on children and the more vulnerable among this group: children with learning challenges. While reading Remotely Controlled, I was provided with succinct answers to why my little brother behaved in certain ways and why many cartoons are produced in such a way that can lead to both short- and long-term effects on a child’s behavior; their interaction with others, their relationship with time, tasks, and language.

The need for constant stimulation, instant gratification, and the inability to handle complex problems that do not have quick solutions are all contributing factors spurred on by too much time with the small screen.

My brother would hurriedly try and repeat every word spoken within a segment of Scooby Doo while mimicking every exaggerated movement the animated pencil strokes made. His actions seemed erratic but it was purely a mirroring of what he was consuming. In turn more controlled and calming activities would go by the wayside and I could tell that his issues with speech and learning were only being exacerbated by his constant consumption of television.

To my surprise and elation (my concerns were given validation) Scooby Doo was actually given a mention and used as a prime example of cartoons that contain multiple jump-cut edits that can be cognitively harmful if watched repeatedly. A jump-cut edit basically results in transitions from scene to scene happening almost simultaneously. Conceptually, time breaks down into smaller, quicker, more instantaneous pockets of action. For example, Scooby and his gang could go from running through a deep forest to taking refuge in a cave within half a second. We miss what it takes to get the group of mystery busters through the forest and into the cave – we miss the journey.

Why is this important? Well, we must all learn patience; we must all learn to apply ourselves to tasks that will often take more than 60 seconds to achieve. We must all learn to enjoy longer-awaited forms of gratification. We must all learn to listen more than one should speak and of course always improve upon a very old art form – communication.  According to analytics company, Nielsen, 2-5-year-olds watch more than 32 hours of television a week, adversely affecting speech, behavior, and brain development. We all have the right to have our health and development prioritized over the mass consumption of something that has been proven to cause severe harm.

New Research at London’s Institute of Psychiatry concludes that attention deficit disorder (ADHD) is a real problem in children and that early exposure to television during critical periods of brain development (adolescence) can be associated with subsequent attentional problems. In Remotely Controlled, Psychologist Dr. Sigmund speaks on the importance of proposing the following when raising young children in the home and there are some extra tips thrown in for families who want to curb screen time!

• Limit television time to no more than an hour a day for 1-5 year-olds
• Make use of other play and past time activities. Replace the tablet with a book, board game, crafts, or a favorite toy
• If the television must have a home in your house, then make it the living area. No television in children’s bedrooms.
• Remove cellphones from children’s bedrooms at night and return them in the morning after breakfast
• Sit down as a family and discuss how you would all like to manage your screen time. Make a plan and stick to it!

As much as we may not love it, Gen Z and Gen Alpha kids have grown up looking at screens. These digital natives use tablets and phones for most socializing, entertainment and, frequently, education. This may not be all bad; information that stimulates us is easier to retain than boring, rote memorization. Here are four highly reviewed apps that can make learning addictive using entertaining, colorful content.

Metamporphabet 

Using simple, but colorful and creative vector graphics, Metamoprhabet teaches kids the alphabet using clever visual morphing animations using words that correspond to each letter. For example, the letter “B” will sprout a beak, grow a long beard and release bugs and butterflies on the screen. Visually, it’s so stunning, kid’s don’t even know they are studying the alphabet. Lots of replay value and bizzare, laugh out loud moments.

LeVar Burton Kid’s Skybrary (Free download, subscription based)

For those who remember, LeVar Burton was the host of the iconic TV show “Reading Rainbow.” “Reading Rainbow” was pivotal for many children of the 80s as it helped foster a lifelong love of reading. Inspired by this, the “Skybrary” app contains hundreds of children’s books, “field trip” video guides to interesting locales and loads of interactivity. One account can be used for up to three kids and the app will tailor suggestions and in-app experiences to each individual user. Register for a free month trial, and subscribe for $4.99 a month.

Prodigy Math Game (Free download, in app purchases)

Resembling an old SNES Role Playing game, Prodigy guides players through various quests in a Harry Potter-ish world. The best part of this game is that it features a reward system when math problems are solved, making it actually entertaining. The math instruction integrates fairly seamlessly into battle scenes to create special attacks and combos, making those algebra problems something your kids might focus on better if defeating bosses is the end goal.

Sago Mini Hat Maker 

Part of the Sago game series, this very cute, indulgent game allows players to design fun, ridiculous hats. More for stimulating the right side of the brain, Sago Mini Hat Maker is all about free expression, color theory, matching and design. Plus you can access hats offline and pose wearing the hats in various selfies. Now pose and say “qiezi!”

Photos: i.ytimg.com, i.ytimg.com, citymomsblog.com

When I first came to China, foreign video console games were banned–not that I had noticed given the number of stores selling them illegally by Nanluoguxiang and in tech areas, such as Zhongguancun. It was only when I inquired on the high cost of consoles and their games, especially when compared to PC games, that I was told they’re actually black market products. Good, I thought, now my husband has no reason to buy the latest Playstation.

While parents debate over screen time and the possible harmful effects of gaming, game developers are creating educational games that encourage social responsibility, environmental awareness, and social skills. And let’s not forget those fun games that teach kids to code–because, as we all know, programmers are the future doctors and lawyers in our society!

Researchers have been confusing all of us with their zigzagging, one minute opposing all gaming for its fictionalization and violence, and the next minute singing its praises. The most recent fact everyone seems to agree on is that video games are mostly harmless and can stimulate a child’s brain in a positive way. So there you go! Games are good for kids, hence why the console/game ban was lifted, and life is good, right?

Wrong. Online gaming, one of the largest growing industry in China, is also China’s new evil. The industry only grows because the number of players grow. Although there have been attempts to prevent minors from gaining access to online games, the numerous internet cafes all over the country allow anyone to play 24/7, or until they run out of money.  Sometimes, teens don’t just run out of money, they run out of food, water, or even their lives.

Online gaming addiction has become such a big issue that suspicious boot camps have opened up shop, beating the addiction out of kids.  Rehabilitation centers for misbehaving children are usually just kids who would rather play games than study, but are treated as if they’re headed to juvi. Recent headlines showcased an angry girl who, upon escaping from a four-month-long, hellish experience at such a boot camp, tortured and killed her mother in revenge.

This is not the first time China has attempted to control the gaming habits of its youth.  In March 2011, China had released “The Parents’ Guardian Project for Minors Playing Online Games”, which gave parents the right to monitor their children’s gaming habits directly from the game operator’s website.  Game operators were required to have a special login for parents, so that parents could firstly, see how much time their kids were spending online, and secondly, request restrictions on their child’s account or freeze/delete the account entirely. The project clearly wasn’t successful given that a new project has been proposed.

The new proposed project, aimed to instill a night-time curfew for gaming minors, was first implemented in South Korea. In that project, they prevented under 15 year olds from playing online games between midnight and 6am, slowing down their network speed considerably (we, behind the Great Wall, know what that’s like!). In China, Global Times reports that players who are below legal age would be prevented from gaming from midnight to 7am.  The idea being that all players must register with an ID, but fake IDs are prevalent and authorities have not been vigilant about requiring all the country’s game operators to comply.

Or at least they haven’t in all the games that I have played in China…

Photo credit: Pixabay, Battlenet