I often talk about using tech (laptops, phones, etc.) as a tool, treat, or talking device. An effective way to model screen-time choices is to say out loud in front of your kids when you are using a device as a tool, treat, or talking device.
As we enter summertime, I have been reflecting on the creation of family memories and that when we shake up things, we stack the cards in favor of lasting memories. Using tech in clever ways can help make memories. It is from this viewpoint that the following ideas came to be 😀
Propose making a family movie together. Maybe you have a child who wants to create a script for a Saturday Night Live-type sketch video.
Maybe you think of a little documentary you could make as a family. For example, you could commit to going to three farmers' markets and interviewing three people at each one about their favorite vegetables or what they like best about farmers' markets.
Pro tip: Your child might initially feel embarrassed, but don't worry. When you ask someone a question for your family project (make sure to mention it’s for a mini-documentary and won’t be posted online), your child will notice that most people — about 90% — are happy to talk. People often light up when they’re being interviewed, and your child will see that it can be a lot of fun!!
Or maybe you just all shoot videos of what is happening during the week this summer. Then, after a month, you all sit down and use an easy editing system to piece it together with music. Here are a couple of examples of tools to do that: VSDC or iMovie.
When I say tech as a talking device — I speak about it as a treat or tool. Sometimes we talk with friends, this is a treat. Of course, it is an essential treat, but like any treat, we need to have limits. Talk can also be in the tool camp, i.e., work calls, calls with the bank, etc.
My suggestion is to commit to talking (or via Zoom, Facetime, etc.) to one family member or past friend each week of the summer. But put it on the calendar now at the start of the summer. Perhaps plan to talk with past neighbors that your child knew years ago. Or plan a call with cousins that you won't get to see in person this summer.
Tech supplies endless treats: YouTube videos, movies, games, and so on. These entertain us, we consume them, and we play with them. The question is, can you think of a treat that would be out of the ordinary and thus more likely to create a memory or even a tradition?
Perhaps you surprise your child by creating a Kahoot! game filled with quiz questions about past family memories (e.g., how old Jake was when he started to crawl, what his parents' first job was, and so on).
How about having a summer tournament playing a video game? But make it more interesting by choosing a popular game from when we, parents, were kids. I’m talking about classic games like Space Invaders, Pong, or Pac-Man. Here’s one site where you can find these games, along with others.
Questions to get the conversation started with your family or group:
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I often talk about using tech (laptops, phones, etc.) as a tool, treat, or talking device. An effective way to model screen-time choices is to say out loud in front of your kids when you are using a device as a tool, treat, or talking device.
As we enter summertime, I have been reflecting on the creation of family memories and that when we shake up things, we stack the cards in favor of lasting memories. Using tech in clever ways can help make memories. It is from this viewpoint that the following ideas came to be 😀
Propose making a family movie together. Maybe you have a child who wants to create a script for a Saturday Night Live-type sketch video.
Maybe you think of a little documentary you could make as a family. For example, you could commit to going to three farmers' markets and interviewing three people at each one about their favorite vegetables or what they like best about farmers' markets.
Pro tip: Your child might initially feel embarrassed, but don't worry. When you ask someone a question for your family project (make sure to mention it’s for a mini-documentary and won’t be posted online), your child will notice that most people — about 90% — are happy to talk. People often light up when they’re being interviewed, and your child will see that it can be a lot of fun!!
Or maybe you just all shoot videos of what is happening during the week this summer. Then, after a month, you all sit down and use an easy editing system to piece it together with music. Here are a couple of examples of tools to do that: VSDC or iMovie.
When I say tech as a talking device — I speak about it as a treat or tool. Sometimes we talk with friends, this is a treat. Of course, it is an essential treat, but like any treat, we need to have limits. Talk can also be in the tool camp, i.e., work calls, calls with the bank, etc.
My suggestion is to commit to talking (or via Zoom, Facetime, etc.) to one family member or past friend each week of the summer. But put it on the calendar now at the start of the summer. Perhaps plan to talk with past neighbors that your child knew years ago. Or plan a call with cousins that you won't get to see in person this summer.
Today I offer over 30 tech-free gift ideas for kids of all ages, including my #1 favorite gift I will be giving my kids. You will notice an absence of book recommendations, but that is because I am working on a full list of suggestions, so for now I hope this list gives you inspiration for creative, tech-free gifts for the holidays!
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Our unique Tech-Free Gift Guide offers a refreshing escape from digital overload, presenting a handpicked selection of imaginative gifts. From culinary adventures and creative arts to educational magazines and physical activities, we emphasize experiences that foster family bonding, creativity, and healthy habits. The guide includes community-building ideas like mural painting and beekeeping, encouraging children and teens to engage in enriching, screen-free activities while creating lasting memories and developing new skills.
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My team and I have been bustling behind the scenes, thinking up new episodes for the Screenagers Podcast and new posts for my weekly Tech Talk Tuesday Blog. Your input at this time would be FANTASTIC! What topics do you want covered? Do your kids have ideas for topics?
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.
