Summer Screen Time Prep

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Screen Time Summer Prep! You can still purchase the workshop here for just $12.

Here are the top 10 reminders from the workshop. Enjoy!

Top 10 Screen Time Reminders:

Trade Shame and Worry for Compassion: Screens are often a source of worry and shame for parents. Remember: we're all in this together as parents of the next generation! Let's neutralize screens as a resource. Compassion for yourself and your children is key to a positive relationship with screens.
Focus on Connection: The ultimate goal is not being anti-screen time or seeing screen time as "bad." Rather, it's about being in positive relationship with ourselves and our children. Screen time is an extension of our relationship with ourselves and our children.
Neutrally notice our relationship with screens: According to a study from Pediatric Research, one of the biggest predictors of how much time kids spend on screens — and whether that use is problematic — is how much parents themselves use their screens when they are around their kids. If our relationship with screens feels out of balance, focus on that first.
List what you LOVE: What brings meaning to your life? How do you soothe stress and integrate your emotions? What is FUN? What relaxes you and lights you up? Make a list of all your favorite ways to nourish yourself and enjoy your life? Now, create a list of all of your children's favorite activities. Focus first on adding in these activities or ensuring they are a part of regular life.
Use the technology to manage the technology. Head into the digital wellbeing/parental controls on your phone and set up your app timers on your phone. Even if you decide to extend the time, you are bringing conscious awareness to your screen time usage. Make sure you have parental filters on your home wifi and all of your children's devices. Be aware of YouTube and limit YouTube to kids ages 13+ or make sure it's watched on a TV in the common area or on a device that is in your earshot.
Know your children. Know the screen time recommendations for your children's age group, understand their unique brain wiring, temperament, developmental needs, what they love to do on screens, and how they respond to the content and duration of screen time. Every family and child is unique with best practices for screen time and customization is important.
The largest study to date on children's mental health and screens from Yale Medicine report: Youth who spent the most time on digital technology exhibited higher levels of depression, anxiety, social anxiety, aggression, defiance, and bullying — even up to two years after the dependence. The study concluded an “association between frequent screen time and mental health problems was mediated by specific changes in brain development.”
Screens can negatively impact language development in young children under age 3, which can increase emotional dysregulation. “Almost 200 conversations get lost in a day when parents and kids aren’t communicating because of screens," the study reports. Challenges in language acquisition can lead to challenges with children communicating their needs, which can lead to an increase in emotional dysregulation, and/or aggression.
Avoid using screen time as a reward: On one hand, if it's helpful, think of screen time like dessert, coming after the real work of childhood. Develop an optimal screen time plan for your family based on emotional well-being. Since screens are highly addictive, it's recommended to not set up a reward system for screen time.
Have ongoing dialogue with your kids about screens in calm and connected moments. Share your screen time journey and what the research says. Invite your kids to share what they like about certain shows/games and what they're learning. Involve your children in the development of screen time plans with problem-solving. View screen time as part of life skills development for our children.