Between tablets, phones, TVs and laptops, many parents find it a daily battle to limit their children’s screen time.
This is especially true during the summer holidays, when kids have more time on their hands to endlessly scroll through YouTube videos and social media sites.
But aside from cranking up the price of your electricity bill, experts have warned that too much screen time could have a negative effect on young people’s mental health.
A study published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics assessed the correlation between screen time and symptoms of depression among young people, and found that those who spent lots of time online were most likely to exhibit the key symptoms.
The research team conducted the study over the course of four years, using 3,826 young people with an average age of 12 and a half years old.
If you’re a parent that’s keen on limiting the time your kids spend online, a good way to get them to hand over their devices – without having a meltdown – is to set some reasonable ground rules.
As a start, why not try swapping night-time scrolling – which can have a negative effect on sleep – for a soothing audiobook instead? They can become a regular part of their nightly bedtime routine and can introduce your tech-savvy little ones to the wonderful world of books.
Best for: ages 2-4
HarperCollins Children’s Books Presents: Stories for Summer Holidays
This collection of entertaining short stories takes in some of the biggest name’s in children’s writing, including David Walliams, Oliver Jeffers, Judith Kerr, and Emma Chichester-Clark. While it’s primarily designed to keep kids from asking, "Are we there yet?" in cars, planes and trains, we reckon it’s just as effective at soothing kids off to sleep.
Best for: ages 5-7
The World’s Worst Children by David Walliams
This hilarious collection of stories by comedian David Walliams is sure to get kids excited to switch off their computers and start their bedtime routine. It includes ten wickedly funny tales about some of the most awful children imaginable – and there’s even an incredibly apt tale about a girl who’s so glued to her TV screen she’s started to turn into a sofa.
Best for ages: 8-10
Northern Lights by Philip Pullman
Beloved by children and adults everywhere, the first book in Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy tells the compelling story of 12-year-old Lyra, who travels to the frozen arctic with her animal daemon to save her friend and find her father. With plenty of twists, turns, and a good dash of fantasy, this fast-paced page-turner is the ideal listen for kids with big imaginations.
Best for ages: 11-13
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Introduce your kids to the magical world of Hogwarts with the Harry Potter audiobook series, read aloud by the incredible Stephen Fry. Whether your kids are total Potterheads or have never stepped foot into the Wizarding world, they're sure to enjoy this magical tale while they drift off to the land of nod.
Best for ages: 14-16
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
High school student Lara Jean Song’s life is turned upside down when the secret love letters she’s written to her crushes are mailed out to them. Suddenly, she’s the centre of the school’s attention. Teenagers will cringe, laugh and cry along with this romantic tale.
Top Tip: If you are playing these audiobooks through the 'Books' app on iPhone, click the moon icon at the bottom of the screen - this allows you to stop the story after a set amount of time.
