Parents face a tough dilemma these days. A natural impulse to restrict the amount of time kids spend staring at a screen has become complicated now that schools, camps, and even extracurricular activities are being offered online. 

These days, when it's normal for kids to wind down after school by playing games online or watching YouTube videos, it's likely that they'll be doubling up on screen time and spending even less time outside or engaging in hands-on activities.   

Between essential learning and online fun, parents will see their kids' screen time sharply increase. How do parents balance it out?

Some may not mind the increased tech time, while others might be concerned that their kids are either staring at a screen for too long or not getting enough exercise or fresh air. Every parent has a different opinion of technology, and sets different boundaries in their homes of how much screen time their children can have.

But regardless of where a parent stands on the issue, they'll surely be confronted with the reality that screen time is doubling. For those concerned about their kid's internet activity, what are their choices? Do they just hope that after a day spent learning online, their children will want to run around outside or do something less screen-centered? Or do they try to limit the time their kids spend on movies, games, and non-learning online activities that have until now become customary for most kids after a day at school?

Furthering the problem is that kids may not be so enthusiastic about giving up their recreational internet time. To them, it may not matter that they've been spending more time on the computer for school or camp--they're still used to watching YouTube videos during breakfast or winding down in the afternoon with games or cartoons. If you want to put some new limits on your kids' screen time but fear they won't be so willing to surrender their precious tablets, here are some tips to try and ease them into other non-screen activities in fun and creative ways. 

Choose Activities that Center Around Games and Quests  

If your kids play games online, chances are they're programmed to respond to scores, battles, quests, and high-stakes games. After all, the top Android games of today feature all types of games that rely on role-playing, character quests, and competition. So if you want your little gamer to respond to any non-screen activities, you may want to come up with ideas that incorporate the elements of the games they're used to playing. Depending on their age these can range from scavenger hunts to mystery board games or role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. 

Incorporate  Your Kids' Favorite Characters Into Art Projects

This tip is for parents who fear their kids are hopelessly addicted to their games and movies. If they're so connected to their favorite YouTube stars and video game characters that the thought of drawing chalk on the sidewalk will create an instant tantrum, consider easing them into tactile activities by bringing their favorite internet personalities with you into the real world. Plan some arts and crafts activities, but base them on your kids' favorite personalities from the internet. Ask your kids to make drawings, finger paintings, cut-outs, or even comic books with pictures and stories about their favorite characters. You can also mimic the methods of play or art therapy. This could be a good way to bridge the gap between the screen and the real world while keeping your kids interested and engaged. 

Mimic the Internet with "Activity Buffets" 

If you're going to have any hopes of competing with the hyper-textual world of the internet, you're going to have to let a little chaos in. The internet has made it so easy for us to click from one show to another as soon as boredom kicks in or shut down a boring video and immediately start another, that it could be hard getting used to activities that require longer attention spans. For that reason, it's a good idea to have many options available at once. Set up a sort of activity buffet that allows your kid to jump from one activity to the next. Yes, it may be harder to set up (and clean up), but it's worth it if it keeps your kids from getting bored too quickly and running back to the comforts of the screen.  

Balance the Screen and the Real World

Whether out of concern for their kid's minds, eyesight, or fine motor skills, many parents set limits on the amount of time their kids spend staring at a screen. But this is difficult these days, since even essential activities like school and camp are occurring online. This means parents have to be creative about nudging their kids away from the screen during their free time when they're used to watching cartoons or playing games. But it can be done, especially if parents consider how their kids respond to their favorite online entertainment and mimic it in through fun, immersive offline activities.