Summer vacation is almost here…..here are a few tips to manage your child’s screen time.

-Establish some ground rules when it comes to the small screen.  TV, video games, DVDs and the computer are all great tools, but make sure they are used in moderation.  Make sure for the minutes their spending in front of a screen, they’re also playing outside and interacting face to face with friends and family.

-Use media together and talk about what you see, hear and read.  Whatever you can watch, play, listen and surf with your kids, talk about the content.  It is best to have an open dialogue with your kids and look for teachable moments.

-Make playdates with your children, not channels.  TV shouldn’t be your child’s constant companion.  Instead of sitting down to watch a movie with your child, think about taking a bike ride, heading to a park or reading a book together.