Skill #6: Screen Time

Check out this awesome link with some great info and studies on screen time and language development! https://www.speechandlanguagekids.com/screen-time-and-language-development/

Here are some ideas of things to do instead of screens with your child. Remember that in order for your child to be off screens, you need to be willing to be off your screens too!

• Talk with your child.  If your child is only giving you one-word responses, try asking more specific questions (like “who did you eat lunch with”) instead of open-ended questions (like “how was your day?”).

• Sing songs

• Read a book

• Play with your child’s favorite toy

• Color a picture

• Make a craft project

• Play in the yard

• Go for a walk

• Take your child to a park

• Go for a car ride and talk about what you see

• Go to the library and look for books on a topic that interests your child

• Play a board game

• Teach your child a new skill

• Teach or practice a sport in the back yard

• Ride bikes

• Go somewhere with an indoor play-place

• Call up some friends and have a play date

• Cook something in the kitchen together

• Plant seeds or plants in a garden

• Do a family service project together, like helping an elderly neighbor with house work