Calmer Easier Happier Screen-Time Habits

by Noel Janis-Norton (Contributor)

Do you constantly find yourself battling to stop your kids spending hours in front of a screen? Whether it's a tv, an ipad, a pc or a playstation children are spending more and more time absorbed in the digital world and for most parents it's a cause for concern.The most frequent question parenting expert Noel Janis Norton is asked by desperate parents is how to limit and manage screen time. Parents know their children became aggressive and stressed after prolonged time on an electronic device, and they know that it limits their child's willingness to do other activities, yet they are at a loss of what to do about it.In Calmer Easier Happier Screen Time, Noel adapts her proven parenting strategies to this most complex of areas. Using the latest scientific research to show just how addictive the digital world can be for the developing brain of a child, she using the calmer, easier, happier techniques to help parents wean their children away from their electronic devices and get back in charge.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

Published February 25, 2016

Reviews

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

May be worth skimming through for strategies with teens and regulating screen time

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good to dip into. Chapters with clear scope. Easy to read

[Karen Cockerill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some great tips a little harder to apply…

[Linor David · Rating 4 out of 5]

As you can imagine, you don't pick up this book because you are curious about what parents these days are doing about screen time. You pick up this book because you are desperate enough to read some thing that has the cheesy title "calmer, easier, happier..". She starts the book by acknowledging this and dives into very practical ways to regain control of screen time in your house.
I found this book really helpful. The screen at our house had was turning into a site of a lot of conflict and it was really hard to tell what was being caused by the screen and what was a host of other factors. And it is funny- because it is easy to blame it on the screen, but it was actually our parenting that let the screen time get so out of control.
This book takes a really reasonable tone, and also gave me confidence that we could put in changes. She acknowledges that screens are part of life and doesn't take an all or nothing view- and she really tries to harness the power of the screen to coax kids into more cooperative behaviour. This could seem kind of strange at first- but she is changing the notion that many kids have of their "right" to a screen to an earned privilege. I know this can work really well- screen time is such an intense motivator of behaviour. But it is a bit scary too, how far kids will go to get their screen time. In my house they will have a full out temper tantrum or do all all their homework and chores super quick- whichever one they think will get them their fix.
The last part of the book are parenting techniques- things I'm sure she gets into more in her other books. Some are things I've read before in other parenting crisis moments, but a few were new to me and really helpful. They revolve around cooperation- which might not seem like a big deal- but if you have a kid who is in the habit of not being cooperative it is a nightmare- and as they get older you really can't stuff their feet into their boots anymore.
Overall I'd recommend it for people who need practical solutions. Some of her solutions require a lot of commitment and consistency, and I can't say we have implemented all of them, but brought together they leave with you a path you can follow.

[Nicole Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many tips to help your child have less screen time. Using her techniques and so far so good though will need to keep revisiting them as so many. I’m grateful this book has been written as I was at the end of my tether.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

You must commit to reading this book and using the techniques. The type is small so I am a bit concerned how many readers will make it through

[Rich Turley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute must for those concerned about your child’s screen habits

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some really good ideas and advice on how to tackle this major issue for teens.

[Mamine Tec · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book from Goodreads Giveaways. Thank you.