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Too much screentime isn’t good for you and can have a negative effect on your mental health.

However, it can also have some positive effects too. It isn’t all bad.

The trick is to make sure you balance it with doing other things.

Here are just some of the ways that it can help you.

Get Connected

It’s easy sometimes to feel a bit lonely. You don’t have to be far away from your family or friends to feel that way.

Screens can help you stay in touch. They can help you share what is happening in your life, but also find out what is happening elsewhere.

And that can make you feel like you are part of everything that is going on.

Top tip

“If your parents work away, you can use social media to video call them. You can text distant family or friends.” Cara, aged 11

Relax

Need some a break to relax? Have you thought about putting your favourite song on to help switch the world off?

Then you’re in luck. You can listen to your song on streaming services like Spotify. Or you could look it up on YouTube. Your favourite music artist might let you listen to it on their website. Then it’s up to you whether you want to close your eyes and relax or dance your socks off.

Top tip

“FeelsFM is a music app for anyone and it’s easy to use. You pick an emoji or your emotion and it makes a playlist based on your mood. I’d definitely recommend this to other children because it knows what you want to listen to even if you don’t yourself!” Sarah and Omima, aged 10

Learning

There are lots of ways to learn new things or find out information. From websites that teach you classes to videos that show you simply how to do something.

It can help you with your homework by letting you look up information (just make sure you check that it is true by looking at another site first). Or you could try learning something brand new.

Read more about improving your mental health through screentime:

Childline – Calm Zone Body Image – Emily’s Story

How ScreenTime Can Help Your Mental Health

How ScreenTime Can Help Your Mental Health

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