As we kick off the new year, it’s the perfect time to think about creating and maintaining healthy habits of all kinds – including technology-related habits.
No matter where you stand on the issue of screen time for kids, by setting a few boundaries and sticking to them, healthy habits are possible.
- Establish screen-free zones: use bedrooms and mealtime areas for communication and family bonding.
- Designate tech-free days: choose a day of the week for the whole family to be free of screens – that means you, too! Initially, it might be easier to plan your tech-free day out of the house to keep the temptation of screens out of sight and out of mind. The activity doesn’t need to be anything fancy or expensive, though. A simple nature walk or picnic in the park are great options.
- Set a specific area for screens: designate a common area of the home for using screens and reinforce the limits you set. Keeping your child close by when they use screens makes it easier to monitor content and keep tabs on time spent.
- Discuss online safety early: explain the importance of balanced screen time and teach about not sharing personal information or talking to strangers online. Most apps and devices have options for parental controls that can be great for setting limits and alerting adults when something needs further investigation.
- Set time limits: Having clear expectations of how much screen time is acceptable for your family dynamic helps everyone to know where they stand and cut down on whining when you ask children to put screens away. You may need to experiment with whether setting weekly or daily limits works best. If your kids are older, get their input on how much screen time they think is appropriate and set goals to stick to together.
- Be a role model: Kids will model what they see the adults around them doing. So make an effort to lead by example.
You’ll go through periods of more screen time than others, and that’s to be expected. Aim for a balance and kids will be fine. When you do have periods of increased screen-time needs, why not try turning that screen time into quality time with emphasis on connection over mindless watching?
Here are a few ideas for tapping into the connective power of today’s technology:
- Create Together: Apps like Skribbl or simply drawing on camera can turn “just another call” into an art show.
- Play Online Games: Check out family friendly games like online Pictionary or play a round of “20 Questions.” You’ll be laughing together in no time.
- Share a Mini Cooking Session: No travel required. From microwave mug cakes to simple snacks, sharing a recipe together over video creates sweet moments—and treats!
- Story Time, Your Style: Create a story together. Start by picking a character or setting, then take turns adding the next sentence. One moment it’s about a brave squirrel, the next a spaceship—let your imaginations run wild!
- Use Screen Time as a Conversation Starter: When you do find your child using technology to watch something rather than playing something more interactive, you can make it interactive by watching it with them. Then pause the show or movie at a good stopping point and ask questions like “Which character is you favorite so far and why?” or “What do you think might happen next?”
When it comes to screen time, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Schedule, lifestyle, family dynamics and children’s personalities and ages, all play a big role in determining what is right for each child and family.
But, if you can use technology to not just fill time, but to truly connect - you’re sharing special moments and that’s what family life is all about.