Conversations to Set Up Summer Screen Time During COVID

While the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) has changed its screen time guidelines for younger children ages 2- 5 years old {<1 hour daily of high quality use with adequate sleep, physical activity and media free zones/times), it is less clear about guidelines for school-aged children and teens:  Where We Stand: Screen Time

The APA (American Psychological Association) gives parents loose evidence-based guidelines on how to set up safe screen limits, which includes the following:

1. Pay attention to passive vs. active screen use.
2. Don’t let screens replace other healthy activities such as good sleep, healthy nutrition, plenty of physical activity, and ample productive or creative time.  
3. Parents model healthy screen use.
4. Establish screen free zones and media breaks for the entire family. 
5. Co-view with your kids. 
6. Enable parent controls to track and limit age-inappropriate use and content. 
7. Educate your kids on healthy digital manners and behaviors. 

https://www.apa.org/pi/families/resources/newsletter/2019/05/media-use-childhood 

So how do parents get a handle on managing screens over the summer during the age of COVID?  

I’m a family therapist in Washington DC and nearby Bethesda, and I’ve been working with families sheltering in place for the past 3 months.  Here are a few tips to consider as you reformulate your family’s Summer Screen Plan during the pandemic.

1. Get Curious!

Start by having tactical conversations with your kids about their screen use.  Get curious and consider their answers.  Take time to think about their responses as you develop your guidelines for summertime screen schedules. 

https://www.esrb.org/tools-for-parents/family-guide/

2.  Do your homework!

Take time to learn about parental controls per platform, device and program.  You can set controls on screen time, use, access, etc on any apple product through Screen Time found in Settings. However, you can also change controls on content, downloads etc. on gaming devices.  

https://www.esrb.org/tools-for-parents/parental-controls/

3. Loosen up, and Leverage!

It’s okay to give more screen time during COVID.  It is kids only method of socializing during isolation. Try to stick with some basic standards, and make sure when you do allot for more screens that you leverage that use for what you consider “good goals”  or more positive use. These goals might include social time for your teen/child, work time for parents, added family time through interactive online games or zoom calls, etc. 

4. Balance HDA  and LDA Activities! 1 hour on–1 hour off

• High Dopamine Activities [HDA] that are instantly and constantly stimulating, which includes on screen video games, social media and web-surfing.
• Low Dopamine Activities [LDA] require more delayed gratification, which could include on screen word processing or photoshop programs or off screen exercise, board games, reading, other hobbies.
• Excessive HDA use or digital bingeing causes a residual effect (anger, irritability, brain fog), increased boredom “There’s nothing to do that’s fun!), more reward seeking behavior (i.e more use, snacking, etc), and a negative cycle of withdrawing into games rather than finding other pleasurable productive activities.

5. Set Looser, Lighter Limits this Summer!–Be willing to allow for more screen time especially  if it serves a good purpose. For example, allow your kids to facetime while doing a baking project.  

6. Lessen Screens As You  Open Up  Your Corona Bubble! Don’t let screens replace in-person fun during this time.  As you begin to socialize more outside with friends, make those times screen-free.  

7. First, Time Block Screens!–Teach regulation by scheduling screen time just during certain times of the day.  (i.e. after dinner, after outdoor activity and productive time). 

8. Then, Work on Developing Your Child’s/Teen’s Screen Time Clock!--Have your teen set a timer for 45 minutes/1 hour during their screen time to take a 15 minute break. Or help them schedule breaks around the flow of the game.  If they play for 3+ hours, help them notice how their body and mind feel. 

Most importantly, Remember the Relationship 1st!  Whatever you do to limit or monitor screens during the summer with your kids, always try to use guidelines and have conversations that prioritize the goal of maintaining a good relationship with your child.  After COVID is over, they won’t remember all the youtube videos they watched as much as they will recall whether there was harmony or discord in the family or fighting at home.  

Please attend our Free Webinar on Thursday, June 11th from 12:15-1pm 

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dpd-BEtQQNm_LTxv2wgYew