Are you role modeling technology in a healthy way?
Consider these questions and grow more conscious of
your technology-use:
•Do you frequently scroll through your phone while your
children (or others) try to talk to you?
•Do your incoming calls or texts usually trump in-person
conversations?
•Do you text while driving?
To help set tech time limits, check out these
printable Technology Punch Cards available
at http://www.authenticmoms.com/
technology-punch-cards-printable/
Be a healthy role model.
A 2012 Google study found
that 90 percent of us engage in
multiple screens at once like
watching television while also
scrolling through a smartphone.
Kids will follow your lead when
it comes to how you interact
with electronics. Become
conscious of how much you use
technology and if you engage
with technology in a healthy
way.
Control the games and apps
that your child downloads by
implementing a
parent-controlled password
into your device. Some
electronic devices and
software allow you to set
time limits on games and
online activity. Check out
Common Sense Media.org
for reviews of apps, games
and other media.
Set limits.
“Cell phones, computers, the
Internet and tablets are not
rights––they are privileges. And like
any privileges they need
parameters and rules for their use,”
says Dr. Michael Osit, a child
psychologist and author of
Generation Text: Raising
Well-Adjusted Kids in the Age of
Instant Everything. “Be firm with
time limits and content limits.”
If you have trouble keeping
track of how much time your kids
spend playing video or computer
games, set a timer.
“Only one hour a day or only
after other important priorities
have been fulfilled like homework
and household chores,” Taylor
advises.
The lights and sounds electronic
devices make can interfere with
quality sleep. Collect your kids’
phones and electronic devices at
bedtime and plug them into a main
charging station in your home.
Plan ahead.
Decide when, where and for
how long you will allow computer
time––mobile or otherwise––during
the week.
Also consider the amount of
television your family watches. Plan
which TV shows your children can
watch during the week to avoid
mindlessly turning to television
whenever boredom sets in. Viewing
family-oriented shows together can
invite conversation opportunities
like “What would you do if
something like that happened to
you or one of your friends?”
To prepare for unplugged times,
meet as a family to come up with
alternate activities that you and
your kids can enjoy that aren’t
screen-related. For example, go on
a family walk, play board games,
toss the football, ride bikes, build,
read, cook, draw or explore your
community.
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