Kids aren’t the only ones glued to their screens. Parents get sucked into the little glowing light too.
Not one, but two studies, found something that I found surprising: the majority of parents believe they are good media-use role models for their kids. The American Psychological Association’s 2017 Stress in America survey found that 72% of parents somewhat or strongly agree that they model a healthy relationship with technology for their children. The other study was a 2016 Common Sense Media survey of 1,796 parents, which found that the large majority of parents (78%) believe they model good media habits for their kids.
Do our kids think we are good role models? When I ask audiences of students if they think their parents are on their devices too much, generally two-thirds of the kids raise their hands. The Common Sense Media survey above supports this point in that parents of tweens and teens report spending on average more than 6.5 hours a day on screens each day doing things like watching tv, social networking, browsing the internet, and video gaming.
When we say, “we want to model better,” it is like saying, “I am going to eat better,” a goal which is rarely attainable because it is too vague. A well-known fact about behavior change is that choosing a clearly definable goal, and setting things up for success around it, increases the chance for change that is noticeable and sustainable. Screen time allows us to model behavior change. My suggestion is to pick one thing you want to change about screen time use and share that with your kids or students.
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
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Kids aren’t the only ones glued to their screens. Parents get sucked into the little glowing light too.
Not one, but two studies, found something that I found surprising: the majority of parents believe they are good media-use role models for their kids. The American Psychological Association’s 2017 Stress in America survey found that 72% of parents somewhat or strongly agree that they model a healthy relationship with technology for their children. The other study was a 2016 Common Sense Media survey of 1,796 parents, which found that the large majority of parents (78%) believe they model good media habits for their kids.
Do our kids think we are good role models? When I ask audiences of students if they think their parents are on their devices too much, generally two-thirds of the kids raise their hands. The Common Sense Media survey above supports this point in that parents of tweens and teens report spending on average more than 6.5 hours a day on screens each day doing things like watching tv, social networking, browsing the internet, and video gaming.
When we say, “we want to model better,” it is like saying, “I am going to eat better,” a goal which is rarely attainable because it is too vague. A well-known fact about behavior change is that choosing a clearly definable goal, and setting things up for success around it, increases the chance for change that is noticeable and sustainable. Screen time allows us to model behavior change. My suggestion is to pick one thing you want to change about screen time use and share that with your kids or students.
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Kids aren’t the only ones glued to their screens. Parents get sucked into the little glowing light too.
Not one, but two studies, found something that I found surprising: the majority of parents believe they are good media-use role models for their kids. The American Psychological Association’s 2017 Stress in America survey found that 72% of parents somewhat or strongly agree that they model a healthy relationship with technology for their children. The other study was a 2016 Common Sense Media survey of 1,796 parents, which found that the large majority of parents (78%) believe they model good media habits for their kids.
Do our kids think we are good role models? When I ask audiences of students if they think their parents are on their devices too much, generally two-thirds of the kids raise their hands. The Common Sense Media survey above supports this point in that parents of tweens and teens report spending on average more than 6.5 hours a day on screens each day doing things like watching tv, social networking, browsing the internet, and video gaming.
When we say, “we want to model better,” it is like saying, “I am going to eat better,” a goal which is rarely attainable because it is too vague. A well-known fact about behavior change is that choosing a clearly definable goal, and setting things up for success around it, increases the chance for change that is noticeable and sustainable. Screen time allows us to model behavior change. My suggestion is to pick one thing you want to change about screen time use and share that with your kids or students.
Kids with ADHD benefit most when parents provide support at the exact moment behavior happens, a science-backed approach called "point of performance." Abruptly shifting from high-stimulation screen time to demanding tasks creates a "dopamine cliff," a brain chemistry drop that often shows up as resistance and conflict. Understanding both concepts helps parents smooth those transitions and build real skills and confidence in their kids over time.
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A new Louis Theroux documentary on Netflix exposes the growing network of online influencers pushing sexism, misogyny, and a narrow vision of masculinity on boys and young men. Combined with last year's hit series Adolescence, it is a wake-up call for parents. The good news: there is a lot we can do. This week, I round up our most relevant blogs and podcast episodes from recent months, covering everything from the "interrupter" technique to boys' mental health, phones in schools, online sports betting, pornography, and the manosphere's exploitation of boys' loneliness. The research is clear that parents who show up with curiosity, honesty, and consistency have more influence than they realize.
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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 >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.
