Wow! Summer really goes by fast, doesn’t it? Back-to-school is already here for some and not far away for others.
One other thing that moves just as fast is technology, and with it, are the challenges its rapid changes bring for parents and families.
Over the years, we’ve published hundreds of resources for parents. Some eventually fall out of relevance (remember our 2016 guide on talking to your kids about the Pokémon Go craze?), but many remain just as valuable today as when they were first posted.
Ahead of this school year, I’ve hand-picked four of our most useful blogs. Practical, timely guides to help you set your family up for a healthier, more balanced relationship with technology in the months ahead.
Originally published: April 6, 2021
Screens are so prominent now in our lives, and finding the right boundaries at home is an ongoing challenge. This guide breaks the process into four clear steps that start with family values and end with realistic rules, with plenty of wiggle room for life’s exceptions.
You’ll also hear about my own first attempt at a phone contract (spoiler: it wasn’t perfect) and what I learned from it. If you’ve been meaning to reset your family’s screen agreements, now is the perfect time.
Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
Learn more about our Screen-Free Sleep campaign at the website!
Our movie made for parents and educators of younger kids
Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
Originally published: December 10, 2024
Phones and smartwatches open the door to more connection, but also more complexity in a child’s life. Before you decide, this guide walks you through the leading “simple” models, breaking down costs, features, and safety controls so you can choose with confidence.
You’ll also find suggestions for working with other parents to create shared boundaries, making life easier for everyone. And if you’re still on the fence, I share why waiting can be one of the best tech decisions you make.
Originally published: November 5, 2024
AI “friends” aren’t science fiction anymore! AI Chatbots are here, they’re personal, and they can be risky. In this guide, I share a five-step framework to help you talk openly with your kids about this, the dangers they pose, and what rules make sense for your family.
We also look at ways to encourage empathy and real-world connection in an age of digital intimacy. These conversations aren’t one-and-done; they’re ongoing, and our kids need us to be part of them.
Originally published: April 9, 2024
The conversation about social media’s impact on youth is louder than ever, which is a good thing. Here, I explore four bold ideas for making positive change, from banning phones in schools to working together as parents to delay social media access.
You’ll also find inspiring stories from communities already trying these approaches. With the school year ahead, it’s a perfect time to think about how we can give our teens more independence offline while better protecting them online.
As a new school year begins, small, intentional changes can have a big impact on our kids’ wellbeing and our family life. I hope these guides spark ideas, conversations, and even a few new habits in your home.
If you find them helpful, consider sharing this post with other parents, caregivers, or educators in your community. The more we work together, the better we can support our kids in navigating today’s fast-changing digital world.
Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
Learn more about our Screen-Free Sleep campaign at the website!
Our movie made for parents and educators of younger kids
Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel! We add new videos regularly and you'll find over 100 videos covering parenting advice, guidance, podcasts, movie clips and more. Here's our most recent:
As we’re about to celebrate 10 years of Screenagers, we want to hear what’s been most helpful and what you’d like to see next.
Please click here to share your thoughts with us in our community survey. It only takes 5–10 minutes, and everyone who completes it will be entered to win one of five $50 Amazon vouchers.
Wow! Summer really goes by fast, doesn’t it? Back-to-school is already here for some and not far away for others.
One other thing that moves just as fast is technology, and with it, are the challenges its rapid changes bring for parents and families.
Over the years, we’ve published hundreds of resources for parents. Some eventually fall out of relevance (remember our 2016 guide on talking to your kids about the Pokémon Go craze?), but many remain just as valuable today as when they were first posted.
Ahead of this school year, I’ve hand-picked four of our most useful blogs. Practical, timely guides to help you set your family up for a healthier, more balanced relationship with technology in the months ahead.
Originally published: April 6, 2021
Screens are so prominent now in our lives, and finding the right boundaries at home is an ongoing challenge. This guide breaks the process into four clear steps that start with family values and end with realistic rules, with plenty of wiggle room for life’s exceptions.
You’ll also hear about my own first attempt at a phone contract (spoiler: it wasn’t perfect) and what I learned from it. If you’ve been meaning to reset your family’s screen agreements, now is the perfect time.
Originally published: December 10, 2024
Phones and smartwatches open the door to more connection, but also more complexity in a child’s life. Before you decide, this guide walks you through the leading “simple” models, breaking down costs, features, and safety controls so you can choose with confidence.
You’ll also find suggestions for working with other parents to create shared boundaries, making life easier for everyone. And if you’re still on the fence, I share why waiting can be one of the best tech decisions you make.
Originally published: November 5, 2024
AI “friends” aren’t science fiction anymore! AI Chatbots are here, they’re personal, and they can be risky. In this guide, I share a five-step framework to help you talk openly with your kids about this, the dangers they pose, and what rules make sense for your family.
We also look at ways to encourage empathy and real-world connection in an age of digital intimacy. These conversations aren’t one-and-done; they’re ongoing, and our kids need us to be part of them.
Originally published: April 9, 2024
The conversation about social media’s impact on youth is louder than ever, which is a good thing. Here, I explore four bold ideas for making positive change, from banning phones in schools to working together as parents to delay social media access.
You’ll also find inspiring stories from communities already trying these approaches. With the school year ahead, it’s a perfect time to think about how we can give our teens more independence offline while better protecting them online.
As a new school year begins, small, intentional changes can have a big impact on our kids’ wellbeing and our family life. I hope these guides spark ideas, conversations, and even a few new habits in your home.
If you find them helpful, consider sharing this post with other parents, caregivers, or educators in your community. The more we work together, the better we can support our kids in navigating today’s fast-changing digital world.
Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel! We add new videos regularly and you'll find over 100 videos covering parenting advice, guidance, podcasts, movie clips and more. Here's our most recent:
Sign up here to receive the weekly Tech Talk Tuesdays newsletter from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD.
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Wow! Summer really goes by fast, doesn’t it? Back-to-school is already here for some and not far away for others.
One other thing that moves just as fast is technology, and with it, are the challenges its rapid changes bring for parents and families.
Over the years, we’ve published hundreds of resources for parents. Some eventually fall out of relevance (remember our 2016 guide on talking to your kids about the Pokémon Go craze?), but many remain just as valuable today as when they were first posted.
Ahead of this school year, I’ve hand-picked four of our most useful blogs. Practical, timely guides to help you set your family up for a healthier, more balanced relationship with technology in the months ahead.
Originally published: April 6, 2021
Screens are so prominent now in our lives, and finding the right boundaries at home is an ongoing challenge. This guide breaks the process into four clear steps that start with family values and end with realistic rules, with plenty of wiggle room for life’s exceptions.
You’ll also hear about my own first attempt at a phone contract (spoiler: it wasn’t perfect) and what I learned from it. If you’ve been meaning to reset your family’s screen agreements, now is the perfect time.
When kids struggle with big emotions, many parents reach for a screen to keep the peace — but this can get in the way of children developing real coping skills. Drawing on research from Dr. Jenny Radesky, this post shares two practical strategies: using the Zones of Regulation color system to help kids name and process their feelings, and doing a toy swap with another parent to build your "vulnerable village" of support. Both approaches turn difficult screen-time moments into opportunities for emotional growth.
READ MORE >
When teens say they hate you, it often feels personal, but it may not truly be about you. Teens sometimes direct their overwhelming feelings toward the safest person in their life. Instead of responding with logic or backing down out of fear, check that your limits are fair, practice self-compassion, and focus on validation rather than correction. If conflict feels stuck, family counseling can help both sides feel heard and understood.
READ MORE >
Thoughtful family tech rules help protect kids’ wellbeing, learning, and sleep while strengthening connection at home. Using the fresh start of a new year, this post shares eight practical tech habits families can discuss and adapt together, including shared social media check-ins, screen time inventories, device-free meals, regular gaming breaks, and keeping phones out of bedrooms at night.
READ MORE >for more like this, DR. DELANEY RUSTON'S NEW BOOK, PARENTING IN THE SCREEN AGE, IS THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR TODAY’S PARENTS. WITH INSIGHTS ON SCREEN TIME FROM RESEARCHERS, INPUT FROM KIDS & TEENS, THIS BOOK IS PACKED WITH SOLUTIONS FOR HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN PRODUCTIVE FAMILY TALKS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND IT’S IMPACT ON OUR MENTAL WELLBEING.
