CCA Bulletin 2.8.26

Anyone who knows me understands that I strongly advocate for a balance between technology use and the real world. I am always seeking reliable information to share with parents as we navigate the attraction of the internet.

Today, I am sharing an article by Lynn Wonders, a licensed professional counselor, play therapist, and author. In the article, she outlines 7 strategies to help children and teens reduce screen time. Here is the summary:

1) As adults, we must take a look at how much time we are on screens and how much time we are getting out into nature and interacting face-to-face with other people. If we want to effectively help children and teens step away from screens, we have to practice doing so ourselves.  Start by logging your own screen time over the course of a week without changing anything, then decide where you can have a better balance.

2) Observe family dinners as many evenings as possible and have everyone put their phones in another room. Cherish your face-to-face time with family members. Play the game “one-up-one-down,” where each person shares something positive and something negative that happened to them during the day. Gather in the kitchen and prepare the meal together screen-free, if possible.

3) Encourage your child to host a party where everyone turns in their phones and other screens at the door. You can play music, board games, charades, or Pictionary. You can have a nacho bar, an ice cream sundae buffet, or just order pizzas. Encourage children and teens to hang out with friends without video games, phones, or access to social media. 

4) Plan and announce dates and time blocks every week where you and your children will go somewhere out in nature. Every Saturday morning, go for a hike, or every Sunday, do a family picnic in the park when the weather permits. Every Thursday evening in the summer, pitch a tent in the backyard, build a campfire, and roast dinner and dessert over the flames. Leave the phones and tablets at home. Use walkie-talkies to stay in touch during an excursion.

5) Establish a set time for working or playing on screens, and when time is up, put screens away. As a family, you might discuss the best time for this. Once the screens are put away, set the expectation that your children will spend time with the family, do homework, read a book, or play a board game.

6) Designate a couple of rooms in the house for screen use. An adult should be present when children are online. Screens in the bedroom interfere with quality sleep.  Use an old-fashioned alarm clock instead of the phone. Plug all devices into chargers in a single location at night, where children will not be able to access them later. Keep screens out of the dining room and kitchen to preserve those spaces for face-to-face, human connection and interaction. 

7) The next time your child bemoans being bored, celebrate aloud and tell your kid, “That’s fantastic!  Boredom stimulates your brain to get creative!” Boredom helps us unwind from the overstimulation of screen time and opens a doorway to creativity. It’s important to have completely unstructured time to explore, to be, and to rest. It’s healthy to have nothing to do. Boredom is a temporary state and a sign that we are about to enter a new experience beyond screens.