- Gadgets can be captivating for toddlers but are not the best way to keep them engaged
- Too much screen time can affect their attention span
- Here are some tips to keep toddlers engaged
Minding an active toddler while juggling other tasks at the same time can be a little overwhelming.
It’s easy to turn on the TV and play a cartoon or Ms Rachel on YouTube to keep your toddler busy while you handle other tasks. But when does screen time for toddlers get too much?
According to the World Health Organisation, screen time is not recommended for babies under the age of two and babies between the ages of two and four should get no more than one hour of screen time per day.
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) also advises against too much screen time as it can affect children’s attention span and focus, reduce their ability to read human emotion and control frustration.
According to UNICEF, “Research has shown that screen time inhibits young children’s ability to read faces and learn social skills, two key factors needed to develop empathy.”
It is then essential to reduce the time a toddler spends on screen. Limiting a toddler’s screen time can be done easily by incorporating in-door and out-door out-door activities into their daily lives.
5 activities to keep your kid engaged
Here are a few activities to keep your toddler engaged:
- Bubble wrap popping
When you buy a new electronic or fragile item, it usually comes wrapped in a bubble wrap. You can use this to create an activity for your toddler. Use tape to secure each end of the bubble wrap to the floor or a table and show your toddler how to pop each bubble, or allow your toddler to jump on it.
- Painting
Give your toddler some paint or crayons and cardboard to paint on. This can keep your child engaged for hours.
- Sorting
You can gather your little one’s toys and show them how to sort by colour or shape.
- Treasure hunt
Fill a bowl or tub with sand, bury your toddler’s favourite toys, and show him/her how to hunt for them in the sand.
- Playing with household items
You can also allow your toddler to play freely with household items like the TV remote, a spatula, a plastic bowl, cardboard, and pillows, as this helps to improve their cognitive development and motor skills.