I used to think the ability to have self-control was determined at birth. While making Screenagers I learned that there are a variety of strategies parents can use to improve self-control. There are studies in which parents are trained to help their kids gain self-control, and researchers are able to measure actual improvement. A key way to teach kids self-control around tech time is to set up clear guidelines: State times the child should not be on their device and then give incentives for adhering to them. Their newly learned ability to self-regulate then flows over to other areas where will-power is needed.
So for today's TTT have a conversation with your family and get their input about self-control (some people like the term will-power better).
What is something that each person your family feels out of control with?
Are there certain tech times that feel out of control? Texting? Snapchatting? Gaming? Gaming while doing school work? Facebook for mom and dad? Working on the computer? Shopping on the computer? Liking pictures on Instagram? Strolling through Pinterest?
Talk about how it feels when tech time seems to control you? Having conversations about the feelings will get everyone thinking about this issue and that is a huge step.
I'd love to hear how it went. Share your ideas at the top of this page.
Warmly,
Delaney
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
I used to think the ability to have self-control was determined at birth. While making Screenagers I learned that there are a variety of strategies parents can use to improve self-control. There are studies in which parents are trained to help their kids gain self-control, and researchers are able to measure actual improvement. A key way to teach kids self-control around tech time is to set up clear guidelines: State times the child should not be on their device and then give incentives for adhering to them. Their newly learned ability to self-regulate then flows over to other areas where will-power is needed.
So for today's TTT have a conversation with your family and get their input about self-control (some people like the term will-power better).
What is something that each person your family feels out of control with?
Are there certain tech times that feel out of control? Texting? Snapchatting? Gaming? Gaming while doing school work? Facebook for mom and dad? Working on the computer? Shopping on the computer? Liking pictures on Instagram? Strolling through Pinterest?
Talk about how it feels when tech time seems to control you? Having conversations about the feelings will get everyone thinking about this issue and that is a huge step.
I'd love to hear how it went. Share your ideas at the top of this page.
Warmly,
Delaney
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
This blog explores how children often perceive parental love as conditional, linked to their achievements. It offers insights on fostering unconditional love, with reflections and practical questions to help parents ensure their children feel valued for who they are, not just for what they accomplish.
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Did you know that 45% of girls stop playing sports by age 14 due to low body confidence? That is a shocking and devastating statistic. Dove's Super Bowl ad, in partnership with Nike highlighted this, presenting a critical conversation starter about the intersection of self-esteem, body image, and performance in societal contexts. This 30-second spot was shown to an audience of 123.4 million, as part of Dove’s “The Self-Esteem Project” In a world where what girls see on social media, influencers on YouTube on their favorite shows, and in advertising powerfully shape perceptions and behaviors, this was an important moment. Read more and see the ad in today’s blog.
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For me, Valentine’s Day (which is, by the way, one of my top holidays) is about communicating our love and appreciation for people we care about — not just those we may be romantically involved with. Emojis are all about communicating and we all have different emoji-use styles — from complete nonuse to the most curated and abundant use. What are you? What is your child? And why is it even worth asking?
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.
