Tutor Doctor Longmont: Setting Computer Time Limits for Students

How much screen time is too much? As students are increasingly obsessed with screen time, parents need to set limits on how much TV and online time their students are allocated. Allowing unfettered access to the online world may cause students to live lives that are too sedentary and may also affect their social development.

Why limit screen time?

While allowing your students to spend as much time as they like watching TV or online does keep them quiet and happy, it can also have negative effects on their health and behavior. The sedentary lifestyle encouraged by time online can lead to childhood obesity and an increased incidence of diabetes.

Too much screen time can lead to irregular sleeping patterns. This, in turn, can lead to attention deficits, poor academic performance and weight gain.

According to the May Clinic: “Elementary students who spend more than two hours a day watching TV or using a computer are more likely to have emotional, social and attention problems. Exposure to video games is also linked with an increased risk of attention problems in children. Watching excessive amounts of TV at age 4 is linked with bullying at ages 6 through 11.”

Children under 3 should not be watching TV or playing with phones or tablets. According to the BBC: “Dr Aric Sigman is warning that screens "may produce" an increased level of dopamine in children's brains. He suggests this could lead to a dependency on screen media when they are older.”

In France, TV shows aimed at an audience younger than 3 are banned to protect younger children from too much exposure.

According to a study by Public Health in England, children who spend most of their time in front of a screen have a lower self-esteem and are more prone to emotional problems.

How to limit screen time

1. If you think your student is spending too much time online, limit their access to the internet to just a couple of hours a day. It’s important that you discuss with them why they should limit screen time and the rules around accessing the internet and watching TV.

2. Don’t eat in front of the TV, but take meal times to connect as a family. Be a good example by unplugging regularly yourself.

3. Be more active as a family. Plan activities that get your family moving and out of the house.

4. Don’t leave the TV on in the background as this will prove to be distracting. Move TVs and computers from bedrooms into common areas.

Not only is it important to limit screen time, it’s also important to keep tabs on what your student is being exposed to online. You can enforce screen time limitations by programming phones, computers and tablets to switch off after the designated time allowances have been reached. 

Need organizational skills or test taking skills help? Are your math or language arts classes getting harder and harder?  Are you starting a new language and need some extra help?  Call Tutor Doctor Longmontfor one to one learning in your home.  We serve the St Vrain Valley School n Longmont, Firestone, Erie, Frederick,  Niwot, Dacono, Mead .  A FREE consultation STARTS YOUR BEST YEAR EVER!! We take the stress out of homework and tests : )

Find the Best In Home Tutoring in Longmont, Firestone, Erie, Frederick Niwot, Dacono, and Mead.  Our Tutors focus on Tutoring Algebra, Math, English, Science, Chemistry, Biology, SAT Prep, Test Prep, Homework Help and Foreign Languages

Tutor Doctor Longmont: Let’s Get Moving: How to Keep your Kids Fit Through Winter

As the days shorten and the old Jack Frost settles in for a long visit, it’s more difficult to motivate yourself to get outside and have fun. Your natural inclination is to hole up at home and eat comfort food, but this isn’t healthy or productive. Here are some practical and fun ways to keep your family fit this winter.

Winter Sports

If you haven’t taken up a winter sport, then this is the perfect time to find something you enjoy doing. Skiing, snow shoeing and skating are great traditional winter sports to keep yourself busy. If you want to do something more local, taking walks around your neighborhood or in natural areas can be really interesting over the winter. You can also toboggan with younger students and have snowball fights. Check out these snowball gloves which you can make with an old ball and a glue gun.

Winter projects

When you have a goal for the winter, it’s easier to motivate your students to get outside. Take a look at this amazing igloo. This was built from ice bricks that were frozen in old orange juice cartons. It took several months to make, but ensured hours of outdoor winter fun.  If an ice igloo seems like too much effort, make a snow fort instead.

Geocaching

If you live in a place with no snow, try Geocaching. This is a super fun game where participants create a geocache and hide it in a secure natural location. This location is then posted to the Geocaching website here. You can use your smartphone or GPS to locate a geocache. Fill in the log book and take an item from the cache and leave another one for the next visitor. Visit the website for instructions on how to play the game and what items are acceptable.

New hobbies

Swimming: I love swimming in the winter. It’s a great all-body workout and its fun too. You can join a gym or your local YMCA to get access to an indoor pool. Games like water polo and volley ball also take place at indoor pools or get your students ready for the summer with swimming lessons.

Dance classes: No matter their age or music preference, there is a dance class that’s perfect for your student. From ballet to hip hop, learning some new moves will make them more confident, it will improve coordination and is a great workout too.

Indoor sports: From martial arts to gymnastics, having an indoor sport option that your student enjoys is a great way to keep them fit this winter. If they aren’t into sports, get a gym membership so that they can swim, workout or join an exercise class.

This winter ensure that your family keeps moving and has fun. The best way to get your students to move is to be a good example, so opt for a more active life yourself.

Remember to keep your brain warm with school work and brain exercises.  

Need organizational skills or test taking skills help? Are your math or language arts classes getting harder and harder?  Are you starting a new language and need some extra help?  Call Tutor Doctor Longmont for one to one learning in your home.  We serve the St Vrain Valley School n Longmont, Firestone, Erie, Frederick,  Niwot, Dacono, Mead .  A FREE consultation STARTS YOUR BEST YEAR EVER!! We take the stress out of homework and tests : )

 

Tutor Doctor Longmont: Veteran's Day November 11th

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as "the Great War." Commemorated as Armistice Day beginning the following year, November 11th became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars.

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Jay and Susan  Stype

Tutor Doctor Longmont: Coping With ADD/ADHD

Richmond Art Center  http://www.flickr.com/photos/richmondartcenter/

We know that living with a student who has ADD or ADHD can be frustrating at times, but learning coping mechanism and ways in which to channel all that energy into something positive will mean that you have a happier home and a student who stays ahead of the game academically. Here are some techniques you can use to help your student to excel.

Understanding your role

Students with ADD or ADHD have trouble with executive functioning. They are every bit as capable and intelligent as other students, but they have trouble planning ahead, seeing consequences, organizing, controlling impulses and completing the task at hand. This means you have to work with your in-home tutor and your teacher to provide guidance and take over these executive functions until your student learns the skills to be independent.

While they want to sit quietly in class, follow instructions and complete tasks, they need to acquire the tools to do so. They are rarely purposefully disruptive, but it’s important to recognize that they can be and manage the impact they have on parents, siblings and class members.

Stay positive and supportive

Remember that not being able to follow instructions or complete tasks can be just as frustrating for your student as it is for you. When you stay positive and calm, you will help them to build confidence and won’t make them think that they are always doing something wrong. Always remember that they are not being purposefully difficult and try to be supportive and encouraging.

Focus on the positive

Believe in your student and believe that they are capable of learning the skills they need to succeed. This will mean that you focus on the positive and don’t sweat the small stuff. When your student does three out of five of their chores, focus on the ones they did and praise them for those while gently reminding them of the ones they left out.

Create structure

Routines and structure will help your students to establish the tasks they need to do and the time they have to complete them. Establish a schedule for getting ready in the morning, doing homework and evening routines. Use clocks or timers to remind students of the time limits and to refocus them when their attention is diverted elsewhere. Keep routines as simple as possible.

Free time

Not every minute of every day should be structured. Allow your student some free time and their own space.

Activity

Physical activity helps students with ADHD and ADD to find a positive outlet for all their energy. Sports are a great way to get your students active and to allow them to rid themselves of all that energy.

Diet

Avoiding refined sugars and other processed foods will help your student to focus and to sleep better. Without the rush of too much sugar and with a good night’s sleep, they will be able to cope better.

Socializing

Encourage your students to make friends with their peers. Healthy social lives will help them to feel a sense of belonging and friends can provide support and encouragement.

Get involved

Every single student will thrive when their parents are involved in their lives and supportive of their academic and sporting endeavors. Keep in touch with your teachers and tutors to ensure that your student is progressing well and take an interest in them. Spend time with them and really listen to them.

Take care of yourself

Ensure that you have your own support network of friends and family members. You can also contact other parents who have students with ADD or ADHD and form a support group. Take time out and make sure that you get to focus on yourself from time to time. Happy parents make for far happier children. 

Need organizational skills or test taking skills help for your child with  ADD/ADHD? Are your math or language arts classes getting harder and harder?   Call Tutor Doctor Longmont for one to one learning in your home.  We serve the St Vrain Valley School n Longmont, Firestone, Erie, Frederick,  Niwot, Dacono, Mead .  A FREE consultation STARTS YOUR BEST YEAR EVER!! We take the stress out of homework and tests : )