Autism Outreach for Schools

Vanessa's Blog - February: Screen time

Like it or not, but these days screen time is a large part of most people’s lives. It’s not all bad; time online means that we can keep in contact with our loved ones more easily and children have great opportunities to be create and learn. However, there are a lot of downsides too, particularly for children with autism;

  • It is incredibly easy access to inappropriate content
  • The research is ongoing, but a lot of experts think that oo much time looking at screen can have an effect on young people’s eyesight, their sleep and brain development
  • Some of our young people struggle to know the difference between fantasy and reality, so too much time in the online world can exacerbate difficulties with social understanding
  • Young people can become obsessional about screen time and this leads to separation anxiety when they are asked to turn it off

Here are our top ten tips for keeping control of screen time…

  1. Help your child to remember all of the options they have for things to do at home - Make a list, or choice board of all the things they can do with their free time. You could set up a system where they can tick things off when they have done them, or if you are using a visual choice board have tokens to take off and post them into a ‘finished box’. When screen time is done, they need to choose something else. If they are able to access clubs, that could also be a good way to encourage a wider range of interests such as sports, scouts/guides, music, theatre, or Lego.
  2. Set up rules for the whole family, such as ‘no screens at meal times’ or ‘no screen on family outings’. Make sure family time and sleep are the biggest priorities in your household. Children with autism benefit from clear, form boundaries.
  3. Have a routine - It could be homework first, then screen time or perhaps doing a physical or sensory activity first before they log on.
  4. Avoid screens just before bed – electronic devices give off blue light, which can restrict the about of melatonin produced in the brain and stop children from getting sleepy. However, it is not just about the light; the mental and emotional stimulation of watching videos or playing games can keep children stimulated and keep them awake.
  5. Teach your child to value this time – They could earn minutes of screen time, by doing chores or homework. In-app purchases or spending a lot of money on games and apps is likely something you will want to avoid and I would certainly recommend that you do not have a credit card linked to a child’s account! However, you might want to say this is something they can earn by doing chores or asking for vouchers for their birthday.
  6. Take an interest - Play games with your child, talk about what they do online and watch with them. This will help their communication, improve their self-worth and it will also mean that you understand what they are doing and can spot any potential risks!
  7. Think about what ‘what if..’ - If your child is young, or has a significant learning disability, they should not have time online alone, without observation, so avoid letting them take their devices up to their bedroom lone. If they are older or more able it still may not be appropriate, but you should at least talk through the risks with them and come up with strategies for what to do if they see something upsetting or something that they are not sure about.
  8. Take control of what they access – young people with autism are not always equipped with the right knowledge and understanding of the world to make decisions about what is best for them. We want them to be as independent as possible, but we need to educate them first! Click here to have a look at our info sheet around video games and autism
  9. Model good behavior – if you are always on your phone/Ipad then that is what your child sees as normal!
  10. Use technology to monitor and control time online – Here are some ‘How to’ guides on keeping devices and You Tube safe

You tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nf8GTIV4so

Apple devices: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201304

Android Devices: https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/how-to/google-android/android-parental-controls-3461359/

Nintendo Switch: https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Nintendo-Switch-Family/Nintendo-Switch-Parental-Controls/Nintendo-Switch-Parental-Controls-1183145.html

Amazon fire: https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/how-to/tablets/parental-controls-amazon-fire-tablet-3668812/

 

For more information about managing screen time: https://www.internetmatters.org/issues/screen-time/

General advice on how to stay safe online (the ages can be changed): https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/8_10/ and  https://parentzone.org.uk/tags/ceop

 

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