In today’s connected world, the seemingly endless barrage of text notifications and social media updates can feel overwhelming. Encouraging your child to unplug from technology can create some much needed breathing room and provide valuable opportunities to bond. A Rising Star Children’s Center, a child care center in Cortlandt Manor, NY, explains how to help your child leave their phone behind.

How to Coax Your Kids to Unplug

Create Focus Environments

Maybe your child struggles to complete their homework on time, or they quickly get bored when they sit down to study for a major test. They’ll always feel distracted when their smartphones are close at hand because social media will always seem more interesting than a textbook.

Work with your child to create an environment for deep focus. Turn off phone notifications so they aren’t tempted to respond to a text. If necessary, use a productivity app, such as (OFFTIME) or Think, to temporarily shut off their access to social media during their study time. If your child prefers to listen to music while they work, play an acoustic track at a low level, as music with lyrics may be distracting.

Model Healthy Behavior

One of the basic tenets of child care is that children will model the behavior of their parents. Demonstrate the value of unplugging by turning off or setting aside your phone before bedtime, reading, or picking up a hobby that doesn’t require a device. Make an effort to spend quality time with your child engaging in technology-free activities. Go on a hike, bake cookies together, or go out for ice cream. Do what you and your child enjoy doing, but make a promise to leave your phones where they belong: out of sight and out of mind.

You can also talk to your child about why they feel the need to spend so much time with their devices, particularly if your child is still struggling to put down their phone. Opening up a frank conversation might be exactly what you and your child need to figure out how to set up healthy boundaries when it comes to technology usage at home.

Child care and after-school programs are another way to engage your children in academic and social activities away from the call of technology. In Cortlandt Manor, NY, entrust your children to A Rising Star Children’s Center. With over 40 years of combined teaching and child care experience, their professional staff cares for and educates children from infancy to elementary school, so they can become independent leaders excited about learning. To speak with a friendly child care representative, call (914) 788-4582. Visit them online to learn more about their programs and read their latest testimonials.