Screen Time Reduction Skills

Is there a time and a place you unplug each day? Each week?

Delaney Ruston, MD
November 21, 2016

TECH TALK TUESDAY #42
CAN YOU UNPLUG FOR AN HOUR, A DAY, A WEEK...A MONTH?

Group of teenagers around a table

With Thanksgiving this week, it is a good time to think about the various practices of “unplugging."

To help find times to unplug, a good starting point is to think more about when our kids are not on screens during each day, rather than when they are on screens. From there it's easier to set guidelines around unplugging. I’ve heard about many creative approaches to unplugging:

  • Tech Shabbat is a term coined by the filmmaker Tiffany Shlain who unplugs with her family from Friday night until Saturday at sunset.
  • There is a National Day of Unplugging in early March where everyone across the U.S. is encouraged to unplug for that one day.
  • Last week I spoke with psychiatrist Victoria Dunkley author of Reset Your Child's Brain who told me that her 4-week plan of coaching parents as they unplug their kids for a full month, is highly effective for certain families, particularly kids ages 8 to 10 who have a high propensity for screen time.

This week I'm going to talk about all these examples with my family for TTT and I look forward  to hearing their responses. My goal is that my whole family unplugs on Thanksgiving. I believe it is important to have days when we do not use screens as a way to become aware of the pull of them.  

We all have different approaches but the key is to share ideas, involve the kids, and be open to trying new approaches to see what works and what doesn’t.

For Tech Talk Tuesday this week let's discuss ideas for unplugging:

  • What are the pros and cons of the examples of unplugging above?
  • How long could each family member go without being on a screen?
  • How do you feel about no phones or devices on Thanksgiving?

As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel

Join
443
others who have made the pledge!
Thank you for making the pledge!
Please try again
Book page button

Available now - Parenting in the Screen Age, from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD

Order Here
Find A screening Button

Find a Screening - Find a screening of our movies in your local community

Learn More

Screenagers Podcast - Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for the latest Podcast

Learn More
Book page button

Available now - Parenting in the Screen Age, from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD

Learn More
Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Parenting In The Screen Age Book Cover

Free Book Preview - Download a free preview of "Parenting In The Screen Age" by Delaney Ruston, MD

Learn More

Join Today - Members can screen and view our movies year-round, access new lesson plans, resources and much more!

Learn More
Screenagers Under The Influence Banner

Our New Movie - Learn more about the third movie in the Screenagers Trilogy

Learn More

The Screenagers YouTube Channel - Subscribe for new videos and content from our team weekly!

Learn More
Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Find A screening Button

Find a Screening - Find a screening of our movies in your local community

Learn More
Screenagers Podcast

Screenagers Podcast - Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for the latest Podcast

Learn More
Book page button

Available now - Parenting in the Screen Age, from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD

Learn More
Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Parenting In The Screen Age Book Cover

Free Book Preview - Download a free preview of "Parenting In The Screen Age" by Delaney Ruston, MD

Learn More

Join Today - Members can screen and view our movies year-round, access new lesson plans, resources and much more!

Learn More
Screenagers Under The Influence Banner

Our New Movie - Learn more about the third movie in the Screenagers Trilogy

Learn More

The Screenagers YouTube Channel - Subscribe for new videos and content from our team weekly!

Learn More
Book page button

Available now - Parenting in the Screen Age, from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD

Order Here
Find A screening Button

Find a Screening - Find a screening of our movies in your local community

Learn More

Screenagers Podcast - Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for the latest Podcast

Learn More
Book page button

Available now - Parenting in the Screen Age, from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD

Learn More
Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Parenting In The Screen Age Book Cover

Free Book Preview - Download a free preview of "Parenting In The Screen Age" by Delaney Ruston, MD

Learn More

Join Today - Members can screen and view our movies year-round, access new lesson plans, resources and much more!

Learn More
Screenagers Under The Influence Banner

Our New Movie - Learn more about the third movie in the Screenagers Trilogy

Learn More

The Screenagers YouTube Channel - Subscribe for new videos and content from our team weekly!

Learn More
Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Find A screening Button

Find a Screening - Find a screening of our movies in your local community

Learn More

Screenagers Podcast - Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for the latest Podcast

Learn More
Book page button

Available now - Parenting in the Screen Age, from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD

Learn More
Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Parenting In The Screen Age Book Cover

Free Book Preview - Download a free preview of "Parenting In The Screen Age" by Delaney Ruston, MD

Learn More

Join Today - Members can screen and view our movies year-round, access new lesson plans, resources and much more!

Learn More
Screenagers Under The Influence Banner

Our New Movie - Learn more about the latest movie in the Screenagers Trilogy

Learn More

The Screenagers YouTube Channel - Subscribe for new videos and content from our team weekly!

Learn More
Screen Time Reduction Skills

Is there a time and a place you unplug each day? Each week?

Delaney Ruston, MD
November 21, 2016

TECH TALK TUESDAY #42
CAN YOU UNPLUG FOR AN HOUR, A DAY, A WEEK...A MONTH?

Group of teenagers around a table

With Thanksgiving this week, it is a good time to think about the various practices of “unplugging."

To help find times to unplug, a good starting point is to think more about when our kids are not on screens during each day, rather than when they are on screens. From there it's easier to set guidelines around unplugging. I’ve heard about many creative approaches to unplugging:

  • Tech Shabbat is a term coined by the filmmaker Tiffany Shlain who unplugs with her family from Friday night until Saturday at sunset.
  • There is a National Day of Unplugging in early March where everyone across the U.S. is encouraged to unplug for that one day.
  • Last week I spoke with psychiatrist Victoria Dunkley author of Reset Your Child's Brain who told me that her 4-week plan of coaching parents as they unplug their kids for a full month, is highly effective for certain families, particularly kids ages 8 to 10 who have a high propensity for screen time.

This week I'm going to talk about all these examples with my family for TTT and I look forward  to hearing their responses. My goal is that my whole family unplugs on Thanksgiving. I believe it is important to have days when we do not use screens as a way to become aware of the pull of them.  

We all have different approaches but the key is to share ideas, involve the kids, and be open to trying new approaches to see what works and what doesn’t.

For Tech Talk Tuesday this week let's discuss ideas for unplugging:

  • What are the pros and cons of the examples of unplugging above?
  • How long could each family member go without being on a screen?
  • How do you feel about no phones or devices on Thanksgiving?

As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel

More Like This

Solving Smartphone Problems our Teens are Reporting
March 26, 2024
Screen Time Reduction Skills

Solving Smartphone Problems our Teens are Reporting

The Pew Research Center recently released findings from a study conducted in the Fall of 2023, which has important stats that can help inform our parenting and spark essential conversations with our youth. I’ve structured today’s blog to state the findings first and then write about the solutions later.

READ MORE >
Unlock Healthier Screen Habits: My One Simple Rule for 2024
January 2, 2024
Screen Time Reduction Skills

Unlock Healthier Screen Habits: My One Simple Rule for 2024

I have one goal with this week’s blog: Inspire you to make one and only one New Year’s Resolution about screen time rules. Maybe that has to do with your own behavior with screen time, maybe with your kids, family, or even work. And I’ll share with you my one-screen time rule for 2024.

READ MORE >
Update: Parents Share Tactics For Reducing Their Screen Time
February 28, 2023
Screen Time Reduction Skills

Update: Parents Share Tactics For Reducing Their Screen Time

A few weeks ago I wrote a blog and encouraged people to share with youth in their lives whatever small change they made and to share with me as well so that I could share with you! And that is what I am doing today. I received some great responses. Here are a few examples people shared with me:

READ MORE >

parenting in the screen age

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.  

ORDER HERE
Parenting in the Screen Age book cover