Technology and Screens | Parenting

Managing digital life for healthy development.

The Reality

Children today are digital natives. Technology is:

Not going away
Both beneficial and risky
Something they must learn to navigate
Your responsibility to manage

Screen Time Guidelines

Recommended Limits

Age	Recommendation
0-18 months	Avoid (except video calls)
18-24 months	Limited, high-quality, with parent
2-5 years	1 hour max high-quality programming
6+ years	Consistent limits, ensure balance

The AAP guidelines are minimums. Many families choose less.

Quality Matters

Higher Quality	Lower Quality
Educational	Pure entertainment
Interactive	Passive consumption
Slow-paced	Fast-paced, flashy
Age-appropriate	Mature content
Co-viewed	Unsupervised

Creating Screen Rules

Rule Area	Example
Time limits	1 hour weekdays, 2 hours weekends
Screen-free times	Meals, bedtime, homework
Screen-free zones	Bedrooms, dining table
Content restrictions	Approved apps/sites only
Earned time	After responsibilities done

Digital Dangers

What to Protect Against

Danger	Reality
Inappropriate content	Pornography, violence
Online predators	Adults posing as peers
Cyberbullying	24/7 harassment
Privacy violations	Sharing personal information
Addiction	Compulsive use
Sleep disruption	Blue light, FOMO

Parental Controls

Device	Controls Available
iPhone/iPad	Screen Time
Android	Family Link
Computer	Parental control software
Router	Network-level filtering
Gaming	Console parental controls

No control is foolproof. Supervision and conversation matter more.

Monitoring Approach

Age	Approach
Young children	Full supervision and control
Tweens	Active monitoring, growing trust
Teens	Periodic checks, ongoing conversation
All ages	Know passwords, devices in common areas

Talking About Technology

Ongoing Conversations

Topic	What to Discuss
Online safety	Don't share personal info, talk if uncomfortable
Digital footprint	Everything stays forever
Cyberbullying	Tell an adult, don't participate
Healthy relationships	Online interactions
Content consumption	Critical thinking about media

Creating Openness

Approach	Why
Stay calm	They'll tell you more
Don't overreact	Keep communication open
Be curious, not judgmental	Understand their world
Share your values	Not just rules
Stay current	Know what they're using

Age Considerations

Age	Guidance
Under 13	No social media (legal minimum)
13-15	Limited, supervised introduction
16-18	Growing independence with monitoring

Risk	Prevention
Comparison and self-esteem	Discuss reality vs. curated posts
Cyberbullying	Clear reporting expectations
Oversharing	Teach privacy
Time waste	Set limits
Inappropriate contact	Privacy settings, monitoring

Before They Start

Discuss:

Why they want it (everyone has it isn't enough)
What they'll use it for
How to handle problems
Your monitoring expectations
Consequences for misuse

Video Games

Benefits and Risks

Benefits	Risks
Problem-solving	Addiction
Social connection	Violence exposure
Stress relief	Sedentary behavior
Hand-eye coordination	Sleep disruption
Persistence	Inappropriate content

Gaming Rules

Rule	Rationale
Time limits	Balanced life
Content restrictions	Age-appropriate only
Homework first	Priorities
Social gaming monitored	Know who they're playing with
No gaming before bed	Sleep quality

Signs of Gaming Problems

Preoccupation
Withdrawal symptoms when not playing
Unsuccessful attempts to control
Loss of interest in other activities
Continued use despite problems
Deception about gaming
Using gaming to escape

Phones

When to Get a Phone

Factor	Consideration
Need	Transportation, safety
Maturity	Can they follow rules?
Peers	When do others get phones?
Your ability to monitor	Can you supervise?

There's no right age. It's a family decision based on circumstances.

First Phone Rules

Rule	Reason
Phone is parent's property	You have access
Charges in parent's room	Not in bedroom overnight
Know all passwords	Transparency
Location sharing on	Safety
Limited apps to start	Earn more with responsibility
Response expectations	Must respond to parents

Modeling Digital Health

Your Own Screen Use

What They See	What They Learn
You on phone during dinner	Phones more important than family
You putting phone away	Presence matters
You reading books	Reading is valuable
You discussing content	Critical thinking
You following your own rules	Rules are for everyone

Digital Wellbeing

Practice	Model
Boundaries	Put phone away at times
Breaks	Take digital detoxes
Mindful use	Purpose, not default
Real connection	Prioritize in-person

Building Digital Literacy

Skills to Teach

Skill	How
Critical evaluation	Question sources, check facts
Privacy awareness	What to share and not
Digital citizenship	Kindness online
Balance	Life beyond screens
Self-regulation	Managing own use

Media Literacy

Question	Teach Them to Ask
Who made this?	Source awareness
What's the purpose?	Advertising, information, entertainment
What's left out?	Bias recognition
How does this make me feel?	Emotional awareness
Is this real?	Fake news, manipulation

Practical Strategies

Creating Family Media Plan

Include:

Screen-free times
Screen-free zones
Device curfews
Content guidelines
Balance requirements
Consequences

Create together. They buy in more when involved.

Tech-Life Balance

Strategy	Implementation
Outdoor time	Before screen time
Family activities	Screen-free time together
Hobbies	Non-digital interests
Face-to-face friends	In-person play
Sleep protection	Devices off 1 hour before bed

Key Takeaways

Limits are necessary - Children can't self-regulate screen time
Quality matters - Not all screen time is equal
Conversation over control - Talk more than restrict
Model what you want - They're watching you
Stay involved - Know what they're doing online
Balance is key - Screens are part of life, not all of it
Adjust as they grow - Rules evolve with maturity