Parenting in the Digital Age

A mom is upset by the impact of screens on her family life. Our expert offers ideas for managing screen time for kids.



Managing Screen Time for Kids

You are not alone; parents everywhere struggle with this same challenging issue. Off the bat, it helps to remember that we adults also depend on our devices — for music, entertainment, news, bill payments, FaceTime with grandma, making appointments, texting the babysitter… The list goes on and on! Here are some ideas for how to effectively manage screen time for kids.

1. MODEL GOOD HABITS.

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2. ADD STRUCTURE.

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3. BE WILLING TO TAKE SCREENS AWAY.

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4. NO SCREENS AFTER BEDTIME.

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5. REMAIN NEUTRAL.

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6. BE CONSISTENT.

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7. KNOW WHAT YOUR KIDS ARE DOING ONLINE.

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In summary, when it comes to managing screen time for kids — model screen etiquette, schedule a consistent block of screen time daily or weekly (after homework), take control by limiting or taking away devices outside of the scheduled blocks, use a neutral tone and language when you are setting limits, and discuss content and digital citizenship. Good luck! You may not arrive at a “perfect” solution, but you can make progress!

Source: yourteenmag.com