Ask the Expert: Ideas to keep your kids engage this May holidays

Hi there! This is a great question especially given how we have all suddenly needed to embrace screen time, digital lessons and so on. I think it is very important not to create an association between screen time and device dependence when satisfying primary needs. So for example watching something while eating. This is a good start and many parents, no fault of theirs do resort to this for various reasons, but when something so basic and fundamental such as eating is paired with a device watching, your brain cells are forming an associated connection with the device which is then very hard to unpair. This mechanism is also at play when a device is used to soothe a tantrum. As far as possible, try not to use a device to ease a heightened emotional state. Also when using devices, it is best to prepare the child with a time limit and also not give them the devices early in the morning or late in the evening as this would disrupt their rhythmic cycle. Hope this is useful. :)