Screen time has become a large part of modern life, and it is increasingly common for children to spend time on screens. Screen time offers educational opportunities, social connection, entertainment and skill development and can be a wonderful way to spend time. Screen time however also has its drawbacks which can include a reduced amount of physical activity, disruption to sleep, reduced engagement in hobbies, reading and creative play, social isolation if children are missing face to face activities, exposure to inappropriate content and in serious cases, addiction.
It can’t be denied that technology is a growing part of our community. We can set our children up for success if we help them develop healthy habits around their technology use and screen time. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Set Limits: Parents can and should set limits on screen time, including the amount of time spent on screens, what they are allowed to access (ensure it is developmentally appropriate) and when screen time is allowed. For example, parents can set a rule that screens are not allowed at meal times or after a certain time in the evening. Children love to be on their devices, so you can expect big emotions such as disappointment, frustration or anger if you start communicating about the change. Be consistent about your limits and stick to them, but be open to listening to your children about how they feel and use emotion focused strategies to support them. You will be glad in the long run if you do.
Model Good Behaviour: Children learn by watching their parents. So, parents should model good screen time behaviour by limiting their own screen time, engaging in non screen based hobbies and activities and not using screens during family time.
Encourage Screen-Free Activities: If children have been spending a lot of time on screens, they can find it hard to transition to non-screen based activities and they might not know how to spend their time. Encourage your children to engage in activities such as playing outside, reading books, or doing crafts. Joining in with them will help them with their transition and this can then help children develop other interests and hobbies. Be prepared for your children to tell you that they’re bored, that’s very common. Our devices hit us with dopamine so frequently it’s hard to feel bored while using them. Don’t judge, criticise, blame or punish. Instead, guide your children towards different activities with compassion and empathy.
Use Parental Controls: Parents can use parental controls to limit the content their children can access online or on apps. This can help prevent children from being exposed to inappropriate content.
Supervise their use: It is important to oversee your children’s online use, particularly while they are young. You can do this by monitoring their device history, have them use their devices in family spaces, have access to their accounts and spend time with them using technology for fun.
Stay educated about technology and the way your children use their devices so that you can monitor, make decisions about what is appropriate for their age and monitor risks.
Talk to Children About Online Safety: Parents should talk to their children about online safety, including not sharing personal information, being cautious about who they communicate with online, and reporting any suspicious activity. My final tip is be careful not to punish or tell your children off for exploring places online they shouldn’t have been, because this can lead to them choosing not to tell you if they are exposed to something they shouldn’t have, which limits your capacity to keep them safe. Instead, provide information, ask them how they felt about what they saw, reinforce screen time limits and implement extra supervision if needed.
This blog was prepared and written by Associate Director and Principle Practitioner Dr Victoria Miller, Clinical Psychologist at Melbourne Wellbeing Group.