– We both had a philosophy that we didn’t want a screen at home. We didn’t want an iPad, says Ronja Aronsen (31) from Meløy in Nordland. The couple in their 30s have themselves grown up with Children’s TV only on Saturdays and during the Christmas holidays. On car holidays in my childhood, there were audio books, stickers and drawing materials in the back seat. Nevertheless, it feels almost impossible to achieve the same with your own children. FANTORANGEN: – It felt like a defeat at the start, but now I have accepted that we need the rest that the TV gives us, says Aronsen. Photo: Knut Anders Finnset / news Watching regardless Children under the age of two are advised to avoid all types of screen use. Children over the age of two should not spend more than one hour in front of a screen a day. This is what both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Norwegian Directorate of Health say in their new guidelines this year. Despite this, news still makes children’s TV that the target audience “shouldn’t watch”. – The reason why we make an offer for the youngest children is that we know that parents put on content for these children anyway. That’s what the editor of news Super, Siril Heyerdahl, said when asked why they make “Minibarna” earlier this year. In 2020, news could report that “Minibarna” had an average of 1,226,000 viewers. The most watched episode has long since reached 1.5 million viewers. Relief Grumstad and Aronsen had ambitions not to be part of that statistic. – We want to be with the children. We want to raise them, play with them and have communication. Then we are very happy to read both of them and will pass it on to them. The need for screen time nevertheless crept up on them. – I did not expect that I would resort to the TV so quickly. It was a defeat, says Aronsen. Without family in Tromsø, they have had no relief during their leave, she explains. – In the evenings, the children are very tired and whiny. And concentration is not so good either after a long day. They need rest. On the days when it’s worst, they have found a solution: – Then we turn on the TV and give the twins a pacifier. Then we sit with them on the sofa. BECOME RESTLESS: If the twins sit too long in front of the screen, they get bored. The cuddle time on the sofa in front of the TV usually only lasts ten minutes. Photo: Knut Anders Finnset / news Want a tablet for driving trips The family has not yet acquired a tablet, but they are planning to. – When we drove from Tromsø to Oslo this summer, I thought that this was going to go well. We will fix this. But the first thing I said when we arrived in Oslo after a week was – we have to buy an iPad. They were only allowed to drive when the children were asleep, she says. – What can an iPad give you? – It gives us time to come forward. Up to family. Until Christmas and summer holidays, where we are going, our goal. An iPad is absolutely gold, actually. Here, the children are still too young to be interested in screens, but gradually the family imagines that a tablet can save the holiday trip. Photo: Privat She explains that they have a long journey to visit family. In addition to tablets, she will supplement with the old tricks: drawing materials, a suitcase full of stickers and singing. – Must bear hearing what is best Line Marie Warholm is a psychologist specialist and psychoanalyst, author and regular columnist in Aftenposten. She has written extensively about parents’ relationships with children. Much of the reason why families with children resort to screens is that the screens are available, she believes. Unlike in the past. – Many people feel tired and pressed for time. There is a way to get it around. – Are the Directorate of Health’s recommendations too strict? – I think that when we are going to make such recommendations, we must start from the needs of the children, not the needs of the adults. Then we parents can practice tolerating the fact that we are not perfect. She believes that the recommendations are good and correct, and that it is important to try to stick to them. – We have to bear hearing what is really the best, and stand by the choices we make, she believes. Line Marie Warholm is a psychologist with broad experience. She has also written books on child rearing. Photo: Astrid Waller Nothing to catch on screen – The first years are absolutely fundamental in the development of children in all areas, but also especially emotionally and relationally. So the contact that children have with their parents in the first years is very important. Warholm therefore believes it is particularly important to have strict screen hygiene in the early years. – Then there will be later times in the children’s lives when we can lower our shoulders more and think that things will work out, because you have a good foundation there. Hedvig and Astrid have already become fond of books. Here they are at the library in Tromsø. Photo: Private – Some will think that the advice is a little unrealistic, and perhaps a little strict. Isn’t it nice to watch TV with your child? – I have great understanding of that. But I think there is a big difference between watching something appropriate together, and placing a child in front of a screen while doing other things. The contact with another person who responds is what matters. – A one-year-old has nothing to gain from a screen. A one-year-old needs the other to respond to the one-year-old’s actions. Because a screen will not react to you. – Should we be so principled that we wear ourselves out? – No, absolutely not. But what is so strange is that it is so easy for us to let the little children be the balance sheet. She elaborates: – Parents today go to great lengths to meet all the wishes of the older children, but it is as if it is easier for us not to meet the needs of the smallest children. Do you let your children under the age of two watch screens? ? Yes, every day. Yes, a few times a week. Yes, but only rarely. No never. Show result – Balance Ronja Aronsen has long since accepted that they as a family do not live up to all the ideals. She believes much of the reason for that is that there are so many demands on today’s parents. – I think there is definitely a balance. Screen time can be enjoyable family time too. She nevertheless completely agrees with the advice of the WHO. – If you can avoid it, then do it. But sometimes you have to resort to aids. Don’t be too hard on yourself when that happens. Despite the fact that the family has relaxed the screen requirement a little, there is one thing they will never give up on. – An iPad has nothing to do on a dining table, says Aronsen. Photo: Knut Anders Finnset / news
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– Did not expect that I would resort to the TV so soon – news Nordland
