Last week we talked about screen-free zones. This week we are going to talk about one of the most important screen-free zones: the car. As drivers we know we can be distracted with the pings and buzzes of our cell phones or when we are bored at a stop light.
Two years ago my family decided to make car time, screen-free time. There is no question that it has been a great thing for our car conversations. There was a bit of touch and go when we started. When my kid’s friends would get in the car, I would gently tell them that we have a no cell phone policy in the car. At first, my kids were embarrassed that I would say this. But through our family conversations where we discussed the benefits of such a policy, over time they stopped being annoyed, and they don’t mind my telling their friends—seriously, they don't.
There are clear safety reasons why fewer distractions in the car are good. Distracted driving now causes more accidents than drinking. And yet it is not just about safety. Australia recently conducted a survey of 1000 families and found that 95% of parents believe the car is a place where kids can open up and the family can bond (I bet all of you reading this feel the same way). Yet, the parents in the study reported that more than 75% of their children are often on a tablet, phone or other screens, while in the car.
This week Apple released iOS11, its latest operating system. With it comes the long-awaited “Do Not Disturb While Driving” feature. Many have criticized Apple for not having this feature sooner. “Do Not Disturb While Driving” will darken your screen and block calls, texts and notifications while connected to your car via Bluetooth or when the car is in motion. It does not disconnect your ability to listen to music or navigation via Bluetooth.
Third-party apps have long prevented texting while the car is in motion, but stop short there. The new “Do Not Disturb While Driving” feature blocks distractions at a system level. When the car is in motion anyone who texts you while you are driving will receive an automated response saying you are driving and will respond when you arrive at your destination. A second message goes out asking if it’s an emergency, if so an urgent message will come through.
Making the car a screen-free zone is safer for the driver and a wonderful opportunity for family bonding and excellent modeling for our future drivers. Here are some questions to ask:
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Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
Register your interest in bringing our new movie to 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
Register your interest in bringing our new movie to your school or community
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Last week we talked about screen-free zones. This week we are going to talk about one of the most important screen-free zones: the car. As drivers we know we can be distracted with the pings and buzzes of our cell phones or when we are bored at a stop light.
Two years ago my family decided to make car time, screen-free time. There is no question that it has been a great thing for our car conversations. There was a bit of touch and go when we started. When my kid’s friends would get in the car, I would gently tell them that we have a no cell phone policy in the car. At first, my kids were embarrassed that I would say this. But through our family conversations where we discussed the benefits of such a policy, over time they stopped being annoyed, and they don’t mind my telling their friends—seriously, they don't.
There are clear safety reasons why fewer distractions in the car are good. Distracted driving now causes more accidents than drinking. And yet it is not just about safety. Australia recently conducted a survey of 1000 families and found that 95% of parents believe the car is a place where kids can open up and the family can bond (I bet all of you reading this feel the same way). Yet, the parents in the study reported that more than 75% of their children are often on a tablet, phone or other screens, while in the car.
This week Apple released iOS11, its latest operating system. With it comes the long-awaited “Do Not Disturb While Driving” feature. Many have criticized Apple for not having this feature sooner. “Do Not Disturb While Driving” will darken your screen and block calls, texts and notifications while connected to your car via Bluetooth or when the car is in motion. It does not disconnect your ability to listen to music or navigation via Bluetooth.
Third-party apps have long prevented texting while the car is in motion, but stop short there. The new “Do Not Disturb While Driving” feature blocks distractions at a system level. When the car is in motion anyone who texts you while you are driving will receive an automated response saying you are driving and will respond when you arrive at your destination. A second message goes out asking if it’s an emergency, if so an urgent message will come through.
Making the car a screen-free zone is safer for the driver and a wonderful opportunity for family bonding and excellent modeling for our future drivers. Here are some questions to ask:
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Last week we talked about screen-free zones. This week we are going to talk about one of the most important screen-free zones: the car. As drivers we know we can be distracted with the pings and buzzes of our cell phones or when we are bored at a stop light.
Two years ago my family decided to make car time, screen-free time. There is no question that it has been a great thing for our car conversations. There was a bit of touch and go when we started. When my kid’s friends would get in the car, I would gently tell them that we have a no cell phone policy in the car. At first, my kids were embarrassed that I would say this. But through our family conversations where we discussed the benefits of such a policy, over time they stopped being annoyed, and they don’t mind my telling their friends—seriously, they don't.
There are clear safety reasons why fewer distractions in the car are good. Distracted driving now causes more accidents than drinking. And yet it is not just about safety. Australia recently conducted a survey of 1000 families and found that 95% of parents believe the car is a place where kids can open up and the family can bond (I bet all of you reading this feel the same way). Yet, the parents in the study reported that more than 75% of their children are often on a tablet, phone or other screens, while in the car.
This week Apple released iOS11, its latest operating system. With it comes the long-awaited “Do Not Disturb While Driving” feature. Many have criticized Apple for not having this feature sooner. “Do Not Disturb While Driving” will darken your screen and block calls, texts and notifications while connected to your car via Bluetooth or when the car is in motion. It does not disconnect your ability to listen to music or navigation via Bluetooth.
Third-party apps have long prevented texting while the car is in motion, but stop short there. The new “Do Not Disturb While Driving” feature blocks distractions at a system level. When the car is in motion anyone who texts you while you are driving will receive an automated response saying you are driving and will respond when you arrive at your destination. A second message goes out asking if it’s an emergency, if so an urgent message will come through.
Making the car a screen-free zone is safer for the driver and a wonderful opportunity for family bonding and excellent modeling for our future drivers. Here are some questions to ask:
Hobbies offer benefits at every age, from helping children build a sense of self to giving retirees a renewed sense of purpose. The word traces back to the 1400s as a nickname for a small horse, later evolving into today's meaning of a pastime pursued for its own sake. Parents can spark interest by sharing their own hobby histories, building a family-history hobby list, and trying new activities together. Summer is an ideal time to lean into offline hobbies as an antidote to screen saturation.
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When kids break a rule, most parents default to handing down a consequence. But research on autonomy-supportive parenting shows that inviting kids to help decide the consequence leads to deeper learning, stronger accountability, and even kinder behavior toward others. Younger kids tend to overpunish themselves while teens often go easy, and both create natural openings for parents to guide the conversation. The goal isn't softer consequences. It's consequences that actually teach.
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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.
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.
