As we’re about to celebrate 10 years of Screenagers, we want to hear what’s been most helpful and what you’d like to see next.
Please click here to share your thoughts with us in our community survey. It only takes 5–10 minutes, and everyone who completes it will be entered to win one of five $50 Amazon vouchers.
I hear from many parents who feel conflicted about their own phone habits when it comes to modeling healthy use for their kids.
They’ll say, “I tell my kids to get off their screens, but then I’m on mine all the time.”
Given that we all carry around these powerful mini computers/entertainment centers, it makes perfect sense that this is a common struggle.
Today, I want to focus on one specific, and honestly awesome, modeling strategy: showing kids that we’re aware of our own screen habits, and bringing them along as we work to change those habits.
As I write this, I can't help but think of this wonderful quote from Albert Camus:
“It takes time to live. Like any work of art, life needs to be thought about.”
In the latest episode of the Parenting in the Screen Age podcast, two moms join me to talk about one phone habit each of them wants to break.
Hillary realized that when she pulls into her garage, she often sits in her car scrolling social media for far too long, and her teen knows it. Tory, meanwhile, finds herself frequently checking her phone, often for work-related reasons, while spending time with her kids.
I invited both of them to take part in what I call the One Small Change Challenge, using the DARTS framework. In the podcast you’ll hear each of them making a plan based on the following steps:
It would be wonderful to pause for a moment, think about your own phone habits, and take the One Small Change Challenge yourself.
Plan to do it for two weeks and consider inviting a friend or family member to join you. It’s far more fun and motivating when someone is on the journey with you.
Also, if you have kids, it’s a great opportunity to role model by letting them know what you are doing and why. You could even ask them to be your support (the S in DARTS).
They’ll appreciate that for once the focus isn’t on their screen use, but on yours. When we take a moment to reflect on our habits, we’re not just putting down our phones; we’re making space for the art of living.
I’d love to hear from you if you do take the challenge. Let me know how you get on at delaney@screenagersmovie.com
Tune in to the podcast to hear about the small target goals Hillary and Tori chose and how I helped them make their plans using DARTS. In a few weeks, they’ll be back to share how it went, what worked, what didn’t, and what they learned.
Questions to get the conversation started:
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel! We add new videos regularly and you'll find over 100 videos covering parenting advice, guidance, podcasts, movie clips and more. Here's our most recent:
Sign up here to receive the weekly Tech Talk Tuesdays newsletter from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD.
We respect your privacy.
I hear from many parents who feel conflicted about their own phone habits when it comes to modeling healthy use for their kids.
They’ll say, “I tell my kids to get off their screens, but then I’m on mine all the time.”
Given that we all carry around these powerful mini computers/entertainment centers, it makes perfect sense that this is a common struggle.
Today, I want to focus on one specific, and honestly awesome, modeling strategy: showing kids that we’re aware of our own screen habits, and bringing them along as we work to change those habits.
As I write this, I can't help but think of this wonderful quote from Albert Camus:
“It takes time to live. Like any work of art, life needs to be thought about.”
In the latest episode of the Parenting in the Screen Age podcast, two moms join me to talk about one phone habit each of them wants to break.
Hillary realized that when she pulls into her garage, she often sits in her car scrolling social media for far too long, and her teen knows it. Tory, meanwhile, finds herself frequently checking her phone, often for work-related reasons, while spending time with her kids.
I invited both of them to take part in what I call the One Small Change Challenge, using the DARTS framework. In the podcast you’ll hear each of them making a plan based on the following steps:
I am over the moon jazzed to introduce the trailer for our new film, Screenagers: Elementary School Edition. So much work has gone into this film. My team and I wanted it to be attention-worthy and, above all, exceedingly useful. Screen time seeps into the lives of younger and younger kids. Parents struggle with what to do. How much time is okay for entertainment screen time? How to set limits? How to handle meltdowns? What does science tell us about why and how to safeguard sleep in our digital age? And so much more.
READ MORE >
What are the potential costs of loads of certain screen time activities on our kids’ brain health and mood? Today we talk about ways to changes tech time that might help them feel better — even while keeping the same total amount of screen time?
READ MORE >
In some homes, managing screen time is the source of a lot of stress and tension. It can often be downright toxic. If you are at your wits' end about screen time issues, seeking the help of a professional coach or counselor can be beneficial.
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.
