Signs your child is watching too much YouTube
It’s no secret that children of all ages love spending time on YouTube. It’s a great way to entertain themselves and even learn new things. However, as with everything, there is such a thing as “too much YouTube”.
Because we realise that it might be hard to know when to draw the line, we created a short guide going over the dangers of YouTube and any concerning signs you should be on the lookout for.
How to tell if your child is watching too much YouTube?
YouTube is one of the most popular websites in the world. With more than 1 billion active users, it’s not going anywhere anytime soon! Although most people use it for entertainment and relaxation, parents should be on the lookout as it can have a negative impact on their children if left unsupervised.
Apart from containing inappropriate content for children, YouTube can also be highly addictive. So, how can you tell if your child is watching too much YouTube? Here are 5 signs to look out for:
They spend more time on YouTube than doing other activities
If your child is spending more time watching YouTube videos than they are playing outside or interacting with family and friends, it may be a sign that they're spending too much time on the app. Although YouTube can be beneficial in small portions, children need to be occupied with other things like socialising, playing games, going outside, etc.
They get angry when you don’t let them watch videos
Children have a hard time setting limits for themselves, so when you try and take away their phone or tablet, they can often get upset and angry. If your child tends to lose his temper when you tell them to get off YouTube, it’s definitely a sign that they might be forming an addiction.
They lie about how much time they spend on YouTube
If your child is trying to hide their YouTube habits from you, it's a sign that they know what they're doing is wrong. If you suspect your child is spending too much time on YouTube, talk to them about it and help them find other activities they enjoy.
They're trying to copy what they see in the videos
Many YouTube videos feature people doing things that are risky or dangerous, and if your child is trying to copy those behaviours, it could lead to serious injury.
They’re falling behind in class or not sleeping enough
If left unsupervised children can spend hours upon hours watching videos online without thinking about the consequences. This can often lead to poor results on exams due to minimum amounts of preparation and to unhealthy sleeping schedules.
How to limit your child’s screen time?
If you believe your child is spending too much time on YouTube, then there are different approaches you can take. The first thing to remember is that this is a very common occurrence amongst children, so there’s nothing to worry about!
Start by talking to your child about why spending too much time watching videos can be harmful to them. Explain why it's important to limit their screen time and offer alternatives for how they can spend their time. Introduce them to new activities in order to help them find other interests and hobbies that don’t involve phones and monitors. This can include reading books, playing sports, taking football lessons, signing up for online courses, or going out with friends and family.
