Coming back from holidays is a good time to reassess expectations for your children around screen time to support them to transition smoothly back into the routine of learning as school starts again.
Research points to many activities that involve screen time as high-dopamine stimuli that needs to be managed so that good habits can be formed.1
Here are some questions that may be helpful to reflect on when considering screen time habits …
Social
Who are they relating to online? Are they healthy interactions? Are they maintaining good friendships away from the internet?
Emotional – Are they happy after screen time ends? What are their other interests away from screens?
Boundaries – (appropriate to your child’s age)
What are your expectations for when and how long? Can they set their own boundaries or do they need assistance? Are you happy with your level of parental controls?
Is there sufficient break from screens before bed time? (As screens inhibit melatonin production for sleep.) Are devices out of reach during sleep times?
Academic – For older kids into AI, is it being used to short cut challenging tasks or can it be carefully managed to enhance learning in some cases.
Practical Approaches – How do you gauge accurately where your child is at? One suggestion is to be involved with your child’s screen time. On occasion, play their favourite games or watch their interests with them and enjoy this time together. This can open the door to understanding their digital world and encourage them to share their experiences with you as they change and develop.
The following articles may help if you would like more information. All the best navigating this continually evolving field.
Digital guidelines: Promoting healthy technology use for children (apa.org) (American Psychological Association)
Digital guidelines: Promoting healthy technology use for children. (Mental Health Foundation. UK)