Parents needs to regulate the time children spend on screens – but a no-screen policy is as effective as banning sweets, according to TV’s ‘Supernanny.’

Jo Frost stars in the reality TV show ‘Supernanny UK’ and has written six books on childcare.

On The Hard Shoulder this evening, she said parents need to “find a balance” when it comes to their children’s screen-time.

“We want to embrace technology and kids do like to play games on their iPads, educational or not,” she said.

“But we want to be able to regulate that as well because a lot of the schoolwork is being done on iPads – so, for health, mental health and eye-care health, we have got to be able to regulate that.”

She said an outright ban on screens will simply encourage children to seek them elsewhere.

“That is like telling a child, ‘no sweets,’” she said. “As soon as a friend gives them one, they are going to take five. Absolutely not, I am a realist.”

She said very young children should be kept away form screens and encouraged to play in more traditional ways.

“There are, to be honest with you, children that are two or two-and-a-half years old with a lot of screens,” she said. “They don’t need screens.

“They need the toy box and the stuff in there and some quality time - that can be sporadic throughout the day - that allows you to give the attention to your child so they can learn that early-learning education.

“I am a stickler for early-learning education because we know, with a child from the age of nought to five, 90% of their brains are developing in those first five years.”

Remote learning

Ms Frost said parents struggling with remote learning should be comfortable asking for help from friends, family and teachers.

“It is about separating the ego from what you don’t know,” she said. “I invited parents to openly admit what they weren’t brilliant at and to find friends maybe who can help them through that – as well as the cooperation of a teacher to help them understand.

“It becomes ego-driven when we are worried about science and maths because we don’t know enough – Listen, I couldn’t draw a donkey if I tried.”

Employers

Ms Frost said parents need to recognise that they can’t do it all under the current circumstances – and urged employers to show understanding to parents who are trying to work from home while looking after their children.

“That is what I have been saying since last year,” she said. “It does take a village.

“It needs those bosses to understand that you are asking the impossible of those that have several children at home; those single parents out there that are trying to do everything.

“Because it already has led to mental and emotional breakdown and that will never bode well for children because, as much as this virus is contagious, so is anxiety and so is the threat of trying to manage it all and children pick up on that.”

She encouraged parents to remember that all you can do is do your best.

“What is most important is that you stay alive, you keep your kids safe and you get through these challenging times,” she said.

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