Screenager Safety: 6 Savvy Tips for Parents

If you’re a parent struggling with your children’s screen use, you have plenty of company. In today’s world, technology is an integral part of everyday life. And it’s changing so fast that it can be difficult to manage for children who always seem one step ahead.  

Screens Are a World of Temptation

Every day, parents hand a child a phone and let them play a game. But imagine giving a five-year-old the keys to a car and saying, "Go have fun!" There’s an entire world of temptation inside those screens and it can be incredibly dangerous without guidance and controls. 

As a mental health professional, I regularly see families impacted by screen use, whether it’s making unauthorized purchases on a game, giving out personal information to strangers, or developing addictive behaviors. 

A Comprehensive Approach to Screen Time Boundaries

Simply limiting screen time to two hours a day was once recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. But the organization realized that this did not address how devices are used in daily life. The AAP now recommends a more comprehensive approach to responsible digital citizenship that includes developing a family media plan. 

Read on for more details about this and other savvy ways parents can keep screens safe for their kids. 

Start early

Research shows that the younger is better when introducing kids to healthy limits and a positive outlook on technology. In fact, research shows that 90% of a child's attitudes about life are set by age four. Research also shows that the younger kids are when presented with healthy limits and outlook on life, the more positive their own outlook will be.

Create a family media plan

This is the most effective tool I use in my practice and it can be found at HealthyChildren.org/mediaplan. Simply fill in answers to the questions and print out your family’s personalized media plan. It provides recommendations specific for your children’s age and developmental stage, and encourages you to make changes as your kids grow. 

Take advantage of existing resources

There’s plenty of organizations out there which offer education and tools for screen use.

• SmartGenSociety.org is a nonprofit organization that offers presentations, app ratings and more for parents and educators.
• NetSmartz at MissingKids.org/netsmartz offers resources about digital citizenship and online safety for parents, communities and children of every age. 
• Your child’s school may have resources you can use at home. Reach out to them for help. They may be able to provide copies of age-appropriate materials being used in schools that you can also use at home.
• Parental control apps can help you set limits, turn off access to the Internet, block certain websites, and track your child's online activity. 

Keep talking to your kids

Make screens and social media a common topic of conversation and involve your children in the process of setting limits. 

Role model good digital habits

Kids learn by watching adults. If we're constantly on our phones, we’re telling them without words what is acceptable.  

Remember, digital citizenship is a journey, not a destination. Parents will do plenty of adjusting along the way. It’s most important to be proactive and keep the conversation going with your children. If you need help, don’t hesitate to reach out to your primary care provider or a mental health practitioner.