Technology/Screen Time

Technology can be a great blessing to your parenting, but more often than not it is a dangerous and stressful world to live in. Today’s youth have more accessibility to everything in the world more than any other preceding generation. That’s incredible...and terrifying. Here are a few tips to remember when navigating the world of technology with your kids:

1. Set boundaries (and stick to them). Make sure everyone in the family understands the expectations of any technology and maintain accountability. A quick google search will provide many ideas for family media use examples.

2. Educate yourself. If your child is using an app, you should understand it more than they do. Treat media as you would any other environment in your child’s life.

3. Get support. Find like-minded parents with similar parenting views. It’s easy to feel left out/embarrassed for making your child do something “no one else is doing” when it comes to technology restrictions.

4. Don’t be on the sidelines. Actively be involved in what your child is engaging with online. There are many great Parent Control resources out there. Check out Circle (by Disney) and Qustodio.

5. Create tech-free zones. Don’t always rely on technology to keep children quiet. Try to limit the amount of times you use a screen as a parenting alternative to limit emotional outbursts.

6. Screen time shouldn’t always be alone time.

7. Be a good role model. With kids, more things are caught than taught.

8. Emphasize playtime and face-to-face communication.

9. Limit all screen time for kids 2 and under.

10. Warn children about the importance of privacy and the dangers of internet predators (when it is age appropriate to do so).

Additional resources:

1. Growing Up Social by Gary Chapman

2. Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Getting Us Hooked by Adam Alter

3. Unplug: Raising Kids in a Technology Addicted World by Lisa Strohman and Melissa Westendorf