As summer break nears its final days and I see the fall frenzy of school-and-everything-else schedules coming my way, I am preparing for the transition. As I envision the back-to-school scene for our family, I know we have a lot of adjustments to make to get ourselves into “fall mode.” Amidst considerations around supplies, extracurriculars, transportation, and meals is of course…managing screen time.
Last year’s rules fit us pretty well. Summer rules incorporated our summer lifestyles. But this fall — kids are a year older, among other things. I have to consider, have their screen-based interests evolved or changed? How are school demands different? Have my views changed?
Some things remain the same. I still want them to get enough sleep and have enough uninterrupted time for homework. I want them to have time and motivation for creative and athletic involvements, family, and friends. I want to support them in practicing habits that build self-control. You can see Tessa's latest contract here. We also created a template to help you jumpstart an agreement.
So as I consider the conversation our family will be having to get this all sorted out, here are some conversation starter ideas for all of us:
August 22, 2016
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
As summer break nears its final days and I see the fall frenzy of school-and-everything-else schedules coming my way, I am preparing for the transition. As I envision the back-to-school scene for our family, I know we have a lot of adjustments to make to get ourselves into “fall mode.” Amidst considerations around supplies, extracurriculars, transportation, and meals is of course…managing screen time.
Last year’s rules fit us pretty well. Summer rules incorporated our summer lifestyles. But this fall — kids are a year older, among other things. I have to consider, have their screen-based interests evolved or changed? How are school demands different? Have my views changed?
Some things remain the same. I still want them to get enough sleep and have enough uninterrupted time for homework. I want them to have time and motivation for creative and athletic involvements, family, and friends. I want to support them in practicing habits that build self-control. You can see Tessa's latest contract here. We also created a template to help you jumpstart an agreement.
So as I consider the conversation our family will be having to get this all sorted out, here are some conversation starter ideas for all of us:
August 22, 2016
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
Are you co-parenting kids? Do you find that one of you focuses more on establishing rules about screen time while the other is less concerned? You don’t need me to tell you that answering yes to that question is incredibly common, and it can be a major stressor in homes. I look at the challenge and seek solutions in today's blog.
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One phrase I’ve often used over the years is “fighting fire with fire,” and when it comes to managing screen time, this idea can really come in handy. Incorporating parental controls into your family’s screen time routine can make things run more smoothly at home. And summer is an ideal time to consider this approach.
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A topic I hear from parents regularly is regret—regret about saying yes to a tech device too soon. Maybe it was a smartphone, a smartwatch, a gaming console in the bedroom, or allowing social media. Today’s post is about how to reverse course on a tech decision for your child thoughtfully — and possibly prevent even deeper regret down the road.
READ MORE >for more like this, DR. DELANEY RUSTON'S NEW BOOK, PARENTING IN THE SCREEN AGE, IS THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR TODAY’S PARENTS. WITH INSIGHTS ON SCREEN TIME FROM RESEARCHERS, INPUT FROM KIDS & TEENS, THIS BOOK IS PACKED WITH SOLUTIONS FOR HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN PRODUCTIVE FAMILY TALKS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND IT’S IMPACT ON OUR MENTAL WELLBEING.
