If you’re worried about screentime for your kids and how to guide their use of digital tech this fall, join me online Tuesday, August 27th for a one-hour parenting webinar, Smartphones, Sexting & Social Media: What Parents Need to Know. Tickets are $11.50 CDN, tax included. Click here to register.
When lockdowns and restrictions first hit us all back in March, parents understandably abandoned most (if not all) of the screen time rules in their homes. As we all grappled with what this meant for our jobs, our families, our kids’ learning, our businesses, our elderly parents, and our communities, it really didn’t matter if we had to briefly resort to electronic babysitting to keep everyone sane.
The days turned into weeks and the weeks into months. Summer offered some respite with good weather and a chance to go outdoors. With an uncertain school year about to begin and families everywhere facing the prospect of online schooling part of full-time, screen time is once again on everyone’s minds. Here are some practical ways to think through screen time for kids of all ages.
Distinguish between active and passive screen time. Not all screen time is created equal. Composing music, editing video, writing a blog or coding a game is creative, productive work that stimulates young brains, quite unlike the entirely passive drool-inducing experience of watching YouTube live streams or videos of other people playing online games. If your kids are devoting time to schoolwork and creative pursuits online and not (just) scrolling endlessly through Instagram or Tik Tok, you’ll want to cut them some slack. Online school and homework is work, so it’s only fair to balance that with some online fun, but steer kids to the creative stuff where possible and help them be mindful of time spent on the rest of it.
Involve your kids in creating family tech agreements. Even young kids can help come up with guidelines for your family, and teens will appreciate having some say in how things are supposed to work. Critical discussions about the whys of screen time are as important as the whats.
Set up device-free spaces and times. Everyone needs breaks. Mealtimes should be device-free, wherever possible (that includes parents). Experts also agree that, at the very least, beds should not be places where devices are used. If you have space, consider creating device-free reading nooks, play areas, or places for socializing. All devices (including phones) should be charged out of bedrooms overnight. (Yes, that also means you.)
Protect kids online. Small kids, school-aged children, tweens and young teens need help to stay safe from identity theft, phishing, online harassment and predators. Set up parental controls on devices and SafeSearch on browsers. Set up strict privacy controls on online apps and games. Insist on approval for all new accounts and games and record usernames and passwords. Enlist your kids’ help to research new accounts and privacy settings – Common Sense Media is a fantastic free resource for reviews on apps, games, movies and TV.
Model good digital hygiene. Your kids are watching everything you do, so if you perpetually take calls during dinner, interrupt bedtime stories or family movie night or walk around all the time with your AirBuds in, they are silently taking notes. Phones off during mealtimes, give your kids your full attention when you are having a serious conversation or doing an activity together, and remove your devices from your bedroom overnight.
Help them (and you) find some balance. If school and work do end up being online for you and your kids, it’s more important than ever to find a balance between digital media and the other important things in life. If you’re finding that the time they spend online is unhealthy, create a checklist to remind them that every day should also include:
- Creative time (music, writing, art, etc.)
- Physical activity
- Chores
- Face-to-face interaction with family/ friends
- Sufficient sleep
- Personal hygiene
Want to learn more about guiding your kids’ use of digital tech? Click here to register for my Tuesday, Aug. 27th (7:30 p.m. EDT) parenting Zoom webinar, Smartphones, Sexting & Social Media: What Parents Need to Know. full of practical suggestions. Bring your questions! Tickets: $11.50 CDN (tax included)
