Does your child spend his days on screens and you don’t know what to do? To remedy this scourge, there is a simple method that allows young people to avoid becoming slaves: the “3-6-9-12” rule. We explain to you what it consists of and how to apply it.
Many studies show that handling screens too early is harmful to your child’s health. Even if it is tempting to put your child in front of the TV in order to have some peace and quiet, this is not recommended in the long term because the blue light from screens seriously damages the child’s retina and their brain capacity. The psychiatrist Serge Tisseron is clear on the use of screens in children: introduction to screens must be done gradually. To do this, he recommends controlled learning about screens, encouragement of activities that do not involve screens and support for the child in dealing with the screen they are handling.
The rest after this ad
To do this, Serge Tisseron set up the rule of “3-6-9-12”. This rule divides screen initiation into four parts. This makes it possible to regulate children’s use of screens by teaching them to use them in moderation. The key is to make him understand that it is not an essential tool in everyday life and that it can harm his mental and physical health.
What is the “3-6-9-12” rule?
The aim of this rule is to fragment the use of television, computer and tablet into 4 steps, from the birth of the child until the child is 12 years old.
- The psychiatrist advises ban screens before the age of 3 because the child’s first years are a crucial stage for the rest of his life. It is a period where he constructs and acquires spatial and temporal landmarks and awakens his curiosity by observing what surrounds him. Putting him in front of a screen at such a young age is not recommended because it risks seriously impairing his learning.
- Between 3 and 6 years oldthe specialist indicates in his book Tame screens and grow that the screen has the right to screens but with great moderation (and no personal game console before age 6). It is important to respect the age indicated for the programs and to control the time of use: from half an hour at 3 years to 1 hour maximum per day at 6 years. The child should not handle a tablet or computer alone as this risks pushing him or her into social exclusion.
The rest after this ad
- From 6 years old to 9 years oldTisseron believes that the child can start using connected devices but reasonably and under supervision (and no accompanied Internet before 9 years old). To do this, it is essential to set a limit on screen time and make your child understand that it is not the only source of entertainment that exists. It is important to occupy your child in return, by playing with him for example, in order to make him understand that maintaining a social bond is necessary. The actions taken on the screens must be discussed with him so that he understands the impact that the images have on him and on the world around him.
- Between 9 and 12 years old, it is possible that the child can go to the screens more freely provided that they have discussed it with them beforehand about the dangers of the Internet (and not the Internet alone before the age of 12). Acquiring a cell phone is also a subject to discuss with them in order to determine the required age. Finally, from the age of 12, the author believes that the child is old enough to use screens provided they respect the schedules and are warned about harassment, plagiarism or even pornography.
The rest after this ad
Is this rule sufficient?
If the rule is effective in establishing a framework within the family home, some parents may consider it insufficient to really prevent children from being stuck on screens. Because even if screen time is respected, screens remain no less harmful for children, regardless of age. In reality, many experts say that this risks stopping their identification development and compromising their ability to concentrate.
If you want to go even further, you can combine the 3-6-9-12 rule with an education that promotes creativity, manual work or even curiosity. This will allow the child to acquire theoretical references and to be more informed about the outside world. For example, favor outdoor outings, creative hobbies or even reading in order to help them integrate into social life and enrich their general culture in a diverse and varied way.