Tips to Manage Technology with Youth
Kids are spending more time with screen media than ever
before, and at younger ages. In addition, summer often provides more access and
time for electronic use. While technology can provide educational
opportunities, help us connect with others, and promote creativity (think
digital art), it is also important to help youth to set boundaries on their
technology use. Consider the following tips for managing technology with
kids.
Limit screen use.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and World Health Organization (WHO)
have provided guidelines to help families curb kid’s screen use to ensure
plenty of time for active, rather than sedentary activities and interacting
with others. While these guidelines suggest that children under one should not
have any screen time and those under five should not spend more than one hour
watching screens each day, there really isn’t a magic number for screen use in
general that fits every family. What appears to be more important is that it is
high quality, age appropriate media, and parental engagement in what is being
viewed.
Some screen time is
better than others. While not all media needs to be “educational,” you can
maximize your child’s screen time by helping them to find media that helps them
think critically, develop their creativity through creating new content (i.e.
songs, art, etc.) or helps them connect with the larger world in related
offline activities.
Screen time shouldn’t
always be alone time. Watching and playing together can help to increase
social interactions, learning, and bonding.
Create tech-free
zones. Keep family mealtimes and other social and family gatherings screen-free
in order to build social bonds and engage in two-way conversation. Because
electronics can be a potential distraction after bedtime, consider having an
inaccessible place to charge electronics at night, or download apps that
disable the device at bedtime to remove temptation from using screens at night.
Warn children about
the importance of privacy and dangers of predators. Teens need to know that
once content is electronically shared they will not be able to remove or delete
it completely. Teach youth about privacy settings and be sure to monitor their
activity to keep them safe.
Be a good role model.
Children are great mimics, so be sure to limit your own media use.
Media and digital devices are an integrated part of our
society today. They can be a wonderful resource in a variety of ways, but they
can never replace the benefits of face-to-face interactions and learning. By
utilizing these tips, you can help youth reap the benefit of these wonderful
resources while keeping the benefits of personal interactions and learning at
the forefront of youth experiences.
References