Of course, not all screen time is made equal. Liew says that good screen time encourages children to be meaningfully engaged in conversations and actively involved in the activities.

“For example, speakers or teachers on screen interact with children throughout a [live or learning] session, ask questions and give prompts for children to think or problem solve, or do live demonstrations such as at art classes where children have to “do work” on the spot. Bad screen time is largely sedentary, where children are mindlessly watching videos, with no interaction with the speakers, passively consuming content with minimal engagement, and having no mental stimulation,” she elaborates.

For the safety of children who are not able to discern right from wrong, it is important that parents are kept in the loop of what the children are playing and viewing.

“It is possible! Parents should encourage an open channel of communication, build trust with their children so that children are willing to share what they view and play in the virtual world. For example, parents can actually join in to find out more about the video games the kids are playing, like Roblox or Among Us, and have non-judgemental conversations about the games,” says Liew.

Unfortunately, screen time is screen time, whether it’s HBL (home-based learning) or video games on the tablet. Liew doesn’t recommend other “for-fun” screen time if the children have already spent long hours in front of the computers for HBL or enrichment classes on Zoom.

She says, “Research has shown a high association between screen time and myopia, so children are encouraged to spend more time outdoors to reduce myopia. In addition, when kids are sedentary for too long, their muscles might be weakened, thus affecting their gross motor abilities like running, skipping and playing sports. It is important for parents to have a good chat with their children about screen time rules, and explain the harmful effects of excessive screen time, for example, the light and flickering images can overstimulate parts of the brain and affect quality of sleep, eyesight, mental health and the ability to focus.”

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Yes, enforcing a quota on screen time is tough, and Liew recommends creating a “contract” with your children so they feel a sense of ownership.

In the agreement, she says to include: The Hows (How much screen time is allowed each day? How many days of screen time are they entitled to?), The Whats (What programmes will they be watching? What are the consequences if they don’t comply? Avoid irrelevant and unrelated consequences, such as no ice-cream if they don’t switch off the TV. Use natural consequences, like no screen time the next day), The Wheres (Where will they be watching? The more portable the screens are, the more your child will be on them. Encourage screens in common areas as opposed to in bedrooms.)

“After the contract has been agreed on, paste it somewhere visible, preferably near the TV or any common areas in the house,” advises Liew. “Have your children read out the contract, and you can get them to sign on the agreement too.”

Says Liew: “Have children pretend and request to watch the TV, and let them practise how to switch it on and off. Role-play both compliant and non-compliant behaviours! Like—‘let’s pretend it’s time to switch on the TV, can you tell me what you are going to watch?’ Or, ‘let’s pretend you don’t want to switch off the iPad after 20 minutes, what do you do?’”.

“Before time is up, get your children’s attention and let them know they have five more minutes, and get them to repeat after you, saying, Can you repeat what Mummy just said? When must we switch off the TV? How many episodes can you watch?” advises Liew.

Get your children to set a timer and make sure it is visible to them throughout the show. When the timer rings, gently tap their shoulders and let them know that time is up.

Do not snatch the remote control or switch the device off for your children. Instead, empower them by asking: Do you want to switch it off yourself, or do you want me to help you with it?

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“If your children can keep to their promise and switch off the TV, celebrate it! If they don’t abide by the rules, stay calm and carry out the agreed consequences. Reduce power struggles by being firm and consistent,” says Liew.

“Board games, books, gardening, building, baking, outdoor activities, sports, puzzles, art and crafts, science experiments, and learning new musical instruments are great ways to engage children. For toddlers and preschoolers, stimulate their senses, keep their hands busy through sensory play like playing with dough, water/ice play, and creating and building with Lego, blocks and magnetic tiles,” says Liew.

“With the pandemic, parents are now working from home and they cannot afford to spend all day engaging the children. I would prioritise parents’ mental well-being, so it is okay to engage the screen as a nanny for a couple of hours. As long as parents have a close relationship with their children, and there is an agreement about the screen time, it will be easier to get children to adapt when there is a need to reduce screen time once the pandemic situation improves,” says Liew.

“I don’t think we can stop children from using screens entirely. It is more important to make sure our children know their limits (e.g. no devices at dinner time, prioritise school work before video games, be involved in activities like sports or reading, make sure the kids are sleeping and eating well, and have a social life outside these devices). As parents, we have to model these behaviours as well,” she adds.