Screen Time for Autistic Children 📺📱🕹️

Screen time for autistic children in today’s digital age.  A waltz of wires, pixels, and the occasional meltdown thrown in for good measure. As parents, we’re all familiar with the perplexing puzzle of balancing our children’s love for games, TV, and cell phones, especially when they come with a side order of learning disabilities. Balancing screen time for autistic children can be a unique challenge, but it’s a necessary one. Here’s an article warning of screen hazards: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10442849/

Screen time, autism, and childhood development!

Now, I know what you’re thinking – “Screen time is the nemesis of childhood development!” Trust me; I’ve read the articles, heard the warnings, and contemplated creating a bonfire with every device in the house just to free our kids from their pixelated prisons.

But here’s the twist in our tale: I’ve also stumbled upon studies suggesting that video games can miraculously morph into concentration enhancers for our ADHD champs. Oh, and let’s not forget the cautionary tales of phones, iPads, and games birthing OCD tendencies.

Enter Jacob, my youngest progeny, who is legally an adult but will stick around with family until heaven is our permanent address. My husband and I, well, let’s just say we’re charter members of the “How Do We Adult When Our Kid Is a Permanent Resident of Autism” club.

The Solution: Saying Goodbye to iGadgets 🚫📱

The solution was as simple as a triumphant exit for the iPhone and iPad – two devices that Jacob clung to with the ferocity of a squirrel protecting its nut stash. Why, you ask? Well, for starters, our beloved iGadgets couldn’t differentiate between age-appropriate entertainment and YouTube’s greatest hits of “Movie Voiceover Catastrophes.”

Snippets of perfectly decent films transformed into bizarre voiceovers that would leave even Darth Vader scratching his helmeted head being consumed by our son on the autism spectrum. After years of tireless monitoring, debates, and the occasional eye roll from our tech-savvy son, we decided to go medieval on those devices.

Screen Time as a Welcomed Guest 🎮📺

Now, before you peg me as a screen time Scrooge, let me clarify – we’re all about balance, folks. Jacob loves the predictability of his games and movies, but like a squirrel fixated on that nut stash, he can get a tad obsessed.

So, we embark on a quest for equilibrium, where balancing screen time for autistic children becomes a welcomed guest in Jacob’s daily schedule, not the puppeteer pulling all the strings.

Let’s dive right into the chaotic realm of screen time, where YouTube voiceovers reign supreme, sarcasm flows like a never-ending river, and emotions take center stage. Picture this: Jacob would merrily parrot inappropriate voiceovers from movie clips he’d stumble upon in the depths of YouTube.

You know, the clips that sneakily infiltrate even the most kid-friendly content. To make matters even more interesting, he’d not only repeat the lines but also wear the emotions like a hat.

Now, this might sound like an amusing party trick for your average teenager, but for Jacob, who grapples with emotion regulation difficulties courtesy of his learning disabilities, it was like a comedy show gone awry.

Sarcasm and emotional mimicry? Well, they don’t quite fit the bill for a kid navigating the complexities of his own emotions. So, we had to bid farewell to YouTube and its unexpected voiceover adventures.

Screen Time and Removing iPhone and iPad

Next up on our journey: Jacob’s affinity for the iPhone. He would rise at the crack of dawn and make a beeline for his cherished device. At first, it was innocent enough – just a little music to set the morning mood. Christian tunes from the Newsboys, classics from the Eagles, and the uplifting melodies of MercyMe filled our home.

But here’s the catch: YouTube was always just a click away, and on his device, we couldn’t effectively filter the content.

In an ideal world, he’d have a dose of music during the day, tackle his schoolwork and chores, and enjoy the iPad, TV, or games during his well-deserved downtime in the evening. However, what ensued was a full-blown obsession with the phone and iPad, and it wasn’t all smooth sailing.

The lack of parental controls, combined with a sudden onset of attitude issues and an unsettling penchant for repeating the aforementioned sarcastic voiceovers, led us to a decision – those devices had to go.

Finding Alternative Devices

With a heavy heart, we waved goodbye to the iPhone and iPad, and in their place, we introduced the Kindle tablet.

Jacob wasn’t exactly thrilled with the switch, but necessity often breeds adaptation. The Kindle offered us better controls and access to Amazon Prime movies and Kindle books – a trade-off that Jacob eventually came to appreciate.

You see, movies and games were more than just entertainment for Jacob. They were a vital part of his life, a means of communication, and a source of shared laughter within our family. We wanted to nurture these positives and, in turn, steer clear of the negatives.

With the Kindle, we even had the power to program specific times for movies, ensuring a balanced approach to screen time. How my husband changes Jacob’s bad mood with music! #musicandautism.

Strategies for Achieving Balance

Now, let’s get to the crux of the matter – how do we strike that elusive balance between screen time and the real world?

Monitoring: Jacob might be older, but that doesn’t mean we can let our guard down. His emotional regulation quirks are still very much a part of his daily life. If he immerses himself in a movie or show, he becomes it, quirks and all.

Limiting: By limiting his screen time and offering alternative activities, we’ve witnessed a remarkable transformation. He’s no longer a device-clinging zealot but a much happier individual with a broader spectrum of interests.

Scheduling: Finally, we integrate screen time into Jacob’s daily schedule, just like any other activity.

Jacob thrives on balance and predictability, and our schedules provide just that.

A Balanced Approach to Screen Time 💖🕹️

Monitoring, limiting, and scheduling screen time have all contributed to our collective success as a family. With vigilant monitoring, we were able to identify and address issues, leading us to bid adieu to the iPhone and iPad in favor of the Kindle tablet.

Limiting screen time curbed obsessive tendencies, helping Jacob understand the importance of a diversified day.

Finally, incorporating it all into a daily schedule bestowed upon him the predictability he so dearly craved, fostering independence and a sense of accomplishment. Want more download the ebook: https://educatingjacob.myflodesk.com/tfgvkumbkg

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