The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) advises that children should have at least one screen-free day per week, or that parents should limit screen time to no more than two hours a day. But is this guidance practical for the average busy family?
We recognise that being online isn’t solely for leisure; our jobs and daily routines often require constant connectivity. For example:
- The convenience of modern shopping allows us to buy groceries whenever we wish, all without visiting the supermarket. While this saves time, it inevitably involves using a screen.
- Apps have infiltrated every aspect of life; there’s seemingly an app for everything, even one to find someone to walk your dog. Apps enable businesses to operate more efficiently, and allow customers the convenience of booking services at any time, which translates to increased screen time.
- Furthermore, even GP surgeries are pushing for online interactions for making appointments, accessing test results, and obtaining crucial health information. While the NHS warns that excessive screen time can harm our eyes and mental health, their operations are increasingly moving towards digital platforms.
Homework assignment for our readers: Track each instance you use a screen throughout a single day. At the day’s end, review how often you used the screen for tasks rather than for downtime (e.g. scrolling through social media). It will become apparent that screens are an inescapable part of our daily tasks.
No matter what we do or where we go, escaping screen time seems impossible, but what impact does this have on our children, and how can we adhere to the guidelines recommended by NICE?
At AE Publications, our experience of over 25 years has led us to the belief that children are more likely to retain and comprehend information when learning offline. Numerous scientific studies have indicated that online learning primarily stimulates short-term memory rather than long-term retention. We’re sure parents can relate to this with how their children learn. Online environments are not the most conducive for learning.
With over 35 years of tutoring experience through our sister company, AE Tuition, we’ve observed that children assimilate information more comprehensively, are less prone to distractions, and engage more deeply with learning when they are using books.
Utilising books for learning provides an ideal opportunity to disconnect from digital devices, allowing screen time to become a reward for completing studies at home.
We believe that offline learning is key to restoring balance in our online usage at home
Online resources do have a role in supporting the learning process. Most schools employ various platforms to assign homework and additional tasks, streamlining communication between teachers, parents, and students. While using online platforms to convey instructions is practical, we advocate for the actual learning and task completion to occur offline.
Stepping away from screens enables children to put pencil to paper, encouraging a more profound understanding of topics. After completing their work, it can then be scanned or photographed for submission via the school’s online system.
Online learning also presents a safety issue. While we aim to, we cannot always be present when our children are using their screens. A screen can expose a child to dangers, and it’s challenging to ensure they are completing their assigned tasks safely. There are numerous programs for parental control, but these do not address the other distractions a child might encounter online when they are supposed to be learning (e.g. an email from a friend, advertisements, checking the status of an online game). In contrast, when a child learns from books, they are disconnected from distractions, and a parent can be certain of the content they are engaging with, free from the risk of interference from other sources.
At AE Publications, we support children with a series of workbooks, testbooks and test packs arranged in a learning sequence. For example, our workbooks are designed to develop a child’s knowledge, understanding and technique through a logical, step-by-step, methodical approach. Following this process allows a child to progress at their own comfortable pace, helping to prevent any learning gaps. The sense of achievement they gain from mastering a topic in-depth encourages them to develop the skills to become independent learners.
Try offline learning at home!
Give it a try! Feel free to use our one-time voucher code BacktoSchool24 to receive a 10% discount on single books and support your child’s offline learning.