How comfortable are your kids talking to extended family and adult friends? One concern I often hear from parents is that they think screen time decreases face-to-face communication skills. I have not found any exceptional data around this issue. Families and friends will be together for the holidays and in these settings many kids and adults will gravitate towards their personal devices. When situations are uncomfortable or activity is slowed down this is accepted behavior these days. It upsets me when I see kids disappear into their screens when those special multigenerational opportunities for conversation are right in front of them.
In past years at my husband’s family get togethers, I always voted (alone) that the kids stay connected to the family and not disappear to a TV room. Sometimes I “won” and sometimes I "lost", but I always felt unsettled by the conflict. But, finally, after many years of this struggle, we now all agree that having my voice back then to ensure a balance between on-screen and off-screen time was a good thing. Now, that my kids are teenagers they usually choose on their own for the family interaction.
For this week’s Tech Talk Tuesday, let’s discuss face-to-face family time. Remember, this is for both the adults and the kids to answer:
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
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!
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
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.
How comfortable are your kids talking to extended family and adult friends? One concern I often hear from parents is that they think screen time decreases face-to-face communication skills. I have not found any exceptional data around this issue. Families and friends will be together for the holidays and in these settings many kids and adults will gravitate towards their personal devices. When situations are uncomfortable or activity is slowed down this is accepted behavior these days. It upsets me when I see kids disappear into their screens when those special multigenerational opportunities for conversation are right in front of them.
In past years at my husband’s family get togethers, I always voted (alone) that the kids stay connected to the family and not disappear to a TV room. Sometimes I “won” and sometimes I "lost", but I always felt unsettled by the conflict. But, finally, after many years of this struggle, we now all agree that having my voice back then to ensure a balance between on-screen and off-screen time was a good thing. Now, that my kids are teenagers they usually choose on their own for the family interaction.
For this week’s Tech Talk Tuesday, let’s discuss face-to-face family time. Remember, this is for both the adults and the kids to answer:
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
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How comfortable are your kids talking to extended family and adult friends? One concern I often hear from parents is that they think screen time decreases face-to-face communication skills. I have not found any exceptional data around this issue. Families and friends will be together for the holidays and in these settings many kids and adults will gravitate towards their personal devices. When situations are uncomfortable or activity is slowed down this is accepted behavior these days. It upsets me when I see kids disappear into their screens when those special multigenerational opportunities for conversation are right in front of them.
In past years at my husband’s family get togethers, I always voted (alone) that the kids stay connected to the family and not disappear to a TV room. Sometimes I “won” and sometimes I "lost", but I always felt unsettled by the conflict. But, finally, after many years of this struggle, we now all agree that having my voice back then to ensure a balance between on-screen and off-screen time was a good thing. Now, that my kids are teenagers they usually choose on their own for the family interaction.
For this week’s Tech Talk Tuesday, let’s discuss face-to-face family time. Remember, this is for both the adults and the kids to answer:
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
Parenting in this digital age is full of challenges. I imagine many of you are nodding in agreement. And when we look for advice online, it can feel like a sea of perfect experts with perfect advice: “Just follow these three easy steps and everything will fall into place.” In this week’s blog, I share a story about a moment with my daughter Tessa that did not go quite as planned but ended up teaching us both something important.
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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. 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.
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.
