The Pew Research Center just released the results of a survey from 743 teens and reports “Roughly nine-in-ten teens view spending too much time online as a problem facing people their age, including 60% who say it is a major problem.”
I am not at all surprised that so many teens report concerns. Youth and teens regularly tell me that they are bothered by the amount of time “wasted” on screens, which includes their phones.
Now, here is the part that is always key to any of my Tech Talk Tuesdays: solutions. In this same survey, 52% of the respondents reported that have tried to cut back on the time they spend on their cell phones.
Let’s use this survey as a way to start conversations. When talking with my teens, I love having a study that allows me to bring up issues in a more removed way. Talking about screen time use of others means there is less chance my teens will become defensive. So I might pose a question such as: “Given that 52% of teens say that they have tried to cut down on cell phone use, what ways do you think they may have tried?”
As parents (or as teachers, relatives, coaches, etc.) we always have a choice. Do we point out how our kids are overly using screens, or do we point out the times when they have made decisions not to be on screens? I would suggest a positive parenting approach by spending more time pointing out the time they resist the urge to go on a screen and then comment positively on things they are doing offline—emphasizing their abilities and strengths to make wise choices can be so effective.
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Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
Learn more about our Screen-Free Sleep campaign at the website!
Our movie made for parents and educators of younger kids
Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
Learn more about our Screen-Free Sleep campaign at the website!
Our movie made for parents and educators of younger kids
Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
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The Pew Research Center just released the results of a survey from 743 teens and reports “Roughly nine-in-ten teens view spending too much time online as a problem facing people their age, including 60% who say it is a major problem.”
I am not at all surprised that so many teens report concerns. Youth and teens regularly tell me that they are bothered by the amount of time “wasted” on screens, which includes their phones.
Now, here is the part that is always key to any of my Tech Talk Tuesdays: solutions. In this same survey, 52% of the respondents reported that have tried to cut back on the time they spend on their cell phones.
Let’s use this survey as a way to start conversations. When talking with my teens, I love having a study that allows me to bring up issues in a more removed way. Talking about screen time use of others means there is less chance my teens will become defensive. So I might pose a question such as: “Given that 52% of teens say that they have tried to cut down on cell phone use, what ways do you think they may have tried?”
As parents (or as teachers, relatives, coaches, etc.) we always have a choice. Do we point out how our kids are overly using screens, or do we point out the times when they have made decisions not to be on screens? I would suggest a positive parenting approach by spending more time pointing out the time they resist the urge to go on a screen and then comment positively on things they are doing offline—emphasizing their abilities and strengths to make wise choices can be so effective.
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The Pew Research Center just released the results of a survey from 743 teens and reports “Roughly nine-in-ten teens view spending too much time online as a problem facing people their age, including 60% who say it is a major problem.”
I am not at all surprised that so many teens report concerns. Youth and teens regularly tell me that they are bothered by the amount of time “wasted” on screens, which includes their phones.
Now, here is the part that is always key to any of my Tech Talk Tuesdays: solutions. In this same survey, 52% of the respondents reported that have tried to cut back on the time they spend on their cell phones.
Let’s use this survey as a way to start conversations. When talking with my teens, I love having a study that allows me to bring up issues in a more removed way. Talking about screen time use of others means there is less chance my teens will become defensive. So I might pose a question such as: “Given that 52% of teens say that they have tried to cut down on cell phone use, what ways do you think they may have tried?”
As parents (or as teachers, relatives, coaches, etc.) we always have a choice. Do we point out how our kids are overly using screens, or do we point out the times when they have made decisions not to be on screens? I would suggest a positive parenting approach by spending more time pointing out the time they resist the urge to go on a screen and then comment positively on things they are doing offline—emphasizing their abilities and strengths to make wise choices can be so effective.
Hobbies offer benefits at every age, from helping children build a sense of self to giving retirees a renewed sense of purpose. The word traces back to the 1400s as a nickname for a small horse, later evolving into today's meaning of a pastime pursued for its own sake. Parents can spark interest by sharing their own hobby histories, building a family-history hobby list, and trying new activities together. Summer is an ideal time to lean into offline hobbies as an antidote to screen saturation.
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When kids break a rule, most parents default to handing down a consequence. But research on autonomy-supportive parenting shows that inviting kids to help decide the consequence leads to deeper learning, stronger accountability, and even kinder behavior toward others. Younger kids tend to overpunish themselves while teens often go easy, and both create natural openings for parents to guide the conversation. The goal isn't softer consequences. It's consequences that actually teach.
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Kids with ADHD benefit most when parents provide support at the exact moment behavior happens, a science-backed approach called "point of performance." Abruptly shifting from high-stimulation screen time to demanding tasks creates a "dopamine cliff," a brain chemistry drop that often shows up as resistance and conflict. Understanding both concepts helps parents smooth those transitions and build real skills and confidence in their kids over time.
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.
