It’s morning. You are snuggled under the covers, your eyes open, your brain registers that it’s a new day. Is your first interaction with the world an in-person one -- “Good morning, honey” – or a screen one – a text, FB post, or news and traffic update — quick, before anyone in the house says ‘hello’? How about for your kids?
It’s invigorating to be able to interact with every corner of wider world at any moment, from the instant we wake up to the moment before our eyes close at night. But sometimes it’s disorienting, even when we are all at home: Do I feel more connected? Or more alone, even though my husband is on the same sofa two feet away from me?
It brings to mind the cliché 50s image of dad at the dining table, his face hidden behind the paper, walled off from everyone by the tall black and white newsprint absorbing his attention. But now it’s not just dad at dinner, it’s every family member, at all hours, eyes glued and faces lit by screen glow, me included.
I recognize every person needs different amounts of alone time and family time to feel connected to each other, but with screens I feel like spontaneous interactions are harder to come by, make up less of our family time moments. To “be” together, we have to strategize, organize and schedule it. Is this the new social norm?
How is family life at home different with screens in it? Here are some other ways to get the conversation started:
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
It’s morning. You are snuggled under the covers, your eyes open, your brain registers that it’s a new day. Is your first interaction with the world an in-person one -- “Good morning, honey” – or a screen one – a text, FB post, or news and traffic update — quick, before anyone in the house says ‘hello’? How about for your kids?
It’s invigorating to be able to interact with every corner of wider world at any moment, from the instant we wake up to the moment before our eyes close at night. But sometimes it’s disorienting, even when we are all at home: Do I feel more connected? Or more alone, even though my husband is on the same sofa two feet away from me?
It brings to mind the cliché 50s image of dad at the dining table, his face hidden behind the paper, walled off from everyone by the tall black and white newsprint absorbing his attention. But now it’s not just dad at dinner, it’s every family member, at all hours, eyes glued and faces lit by screen glow, me included.
I recognize every person needs different amounts of alone time and family time to feel connected to each other, but with screens I feel like spontaneous interactions are harder to come by, make up less of our family time moments. To “be” together, we have to strategize, organize and schedule it. Is this the new social norm?
How is family life at home different with screens in it? Here are some other ways to get the conversation started:
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
I am over the moon jazzed to introduce the trailer for our new film, Screenagers: Elementary School Edition. So much work has gone into this film. My team and I wanted it to be attention-worthy and, above all, exceedingly useful. Screen time seeps into the lives of younger and younger kids. Parents struggle with what to do. How much time is okay for entertainment screen time? How to set limits? How to handle meltdowns? What does science tell us about why and how to safeguard sleep in our digital age? And so much more.
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What are the potential costs of loads of certain screen time activities on our kids’ brain health and mood? Today we talk about ways to changes tech time that might help them feel better — even while keeping the same total amount of screen time?
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In some homes, managing screen time is the source of a lot of stress and tension. It can often be downright toxic. If you are at your wits' end about screen time issues, seeking the help of a professional coach or counselor can be beneficial.
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.
