Reducing Kids' TV, Computer, and Mobile Phone Time -- Without a Fight Try these stress-free str

1. Watch your own screen habits.

Although your child may not seem to pay attention to everything you do or say, you are still her most important role model. So you can't tell her to cut back on TV time if you're watching endless hours of TV, texting while you're driving, or eating dinner with your IPhone on the table.

"You have to watch what you do," says Melissa Noonan, a child psychiatrist and medical director of the Green Tree School Clinic in Cork. "Parents who have limited TV habits tend to raise children who will have limited TV habits." In short, if you set household screen-time rules, you also need to follow them.

2. Remind teens to limit screen usage.

Banning electronics completely isn't realistic these days, but it's important to let your child know you're paying attention to how much time she's on a screen. "Sometimes, you need to give them a gentle reminder like, ‘Hey, I think you've used enough technology for now -- it's time to get off and do something else,'" Noonan says. "These kids were born digital, so it's up to us to remind them that there's an unplugged world."

3. Motivate your Child to exercise.

Many children drop out of sports programs during the teen years. Your child will be more motivated to move if you let him choose the type of activities he wants to participate in. For example, you may want him to play GAA, but he may prefer swimming.

Another way to help your child be more active is to use his screen time as a motivation to move more. There are plenty of exercise videos and active video games available that are fun to do and can get his heart rate pumping. Encourage him to play with friends, or get the whole family involved in a little healthy active on-screen competition.

Encourage activities that involve socializing. Look for activities and clubs that engage your child socially, so he will get out and be with other people.

4. Create screen rules together.

You'll be more likely to get your child's buy-in if you come up with screen-time rules as a family. Together you can write up a contract that outlines clear house rules with rewards and agreed upon punishments. Here are some suggestions for rules to implement together:

- No texting during meals, either at home or a restaurant

- No TV during meals

- No TV until after homework and chores are done

- The TV gets turned off at a set time at night

- The computer stays in a public room in the home

- No TVs in bedrooms

5. Talk about it.

Simply setting limits won't go down well with older children and teenagers, who need to have rules that make sense to them. Explain that the more TV they watch, the less time they have to be physically active and the more likely they are to gain weight. Show them articles or books about the impact of using too much media so they understand that your rules aren't unfounded -- and that you've got their best interests and good health at heart.