Parenting Tips: Nowadays, most children watch TV or use mobile phones while eating. If your child does this too, this habit can be detrimental to their health. Health experts say that eating while watching TV distracts a child from eating. This can lead to overeating or undereating. This increases digestive problems and deprives the child of proper nutrition. Now, the question is how to break this habit, or how to prevent your child from watching TV while eating? Pediatrician Santosh Yadav has shared a simple method in his Instagram video. Let's learn more about it:

Why do children become addicted to TV?
Dr. Yadav explains that children mostly watch cartoons. Cartoons are fast-paced, colorful, and loud. This means they contain fast movements and fun sounds, which release the "happy hormone" called dopamine in children's brains. This is why children start enjoying watching TV or mobile phones and insist on watching it again and again.

How to break your child's TV-watching habit?
To do this, pediatricians have suggested four easy steps to gradually wean your child away from TV or mobile phones:

Number 1 - Reduce the speed of the video (Reduce Speed)
First, reduce the speed of the cartoon playing on your TV or mobile phone from 1X to 0.75X or 0.5X. This will slow down the video slightly and reduce its excitement. The child will not enjoy it as much and will gradually lose interest.

Number 2 - Reduce the Volume (Reduce Volume)
The loud sound of cartoons attracts children the most. If you gradually reduce the volume, the child will start to enjoy it less and will become less interested in TV.

Number 3 - Change the Content (Change the Content)
Instead of cartoons, show your child videos related to Animal Planet, Animal Safari, or nature. These videos teach children new things, and they are also calm and slow-paced, which gradually shifts their attention away from the TV.

Number 4 - Co-watching
This is the most important step. Don't let your child watch TV alone. Sit with them, talk, and discuss the videos. This will help them enjoy your company more than the screen.

If you want your child to stop watching TV while eating, instead of stopping them suddenly, start with these four small changes. This way, their attention will gradually shift to eating and spending time with family. You can try these tricks today.

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