As summer break nears its final days and I see the fall frenzy of school-and-everything-else schedules coming my way, I am preparing for the transition. As I envision the back-to-school scene for our family, I know we have a lot of adjustments to make to get ourselves into “fall mode.” Amidst considerations around supplies, extracurriculars, transportation, and meals is of course…managing screen time.
Last year’s rules fit us pretty well. Summer rules incorporated our summer lifestyles. But this fall — kids are a year older, among other things. I have to consider, have their screen-based interests evolved or changed? How are school demands different? Have my views changed?
Some things remain the same. I still want them to get enough sleep and have enough uninterrupted time for homework. I want them to have time and motivation for creative and athletic involvements, family, and friends. I want to support them in practicing habits that build self-control. You can see Tessa's latest contract here. We also created a template to help you jumpstart an agreement.
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!
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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As summer break nears its final days and I see the fall frenzy of school-and-everything-else schedules coming my way, I am preparing for the transition. As I envision the back-to-school scene for our family, I know we have a lot of adjustments to make to get ourselves into “fall mode.” Amidst considerations around supplies, extracurriculars, transportation, and meals is of course…managing screen time.
Last year’s rules fit us pretty well. Summer rules incorporated our summer lifestyles. But this fall — kids are a year older, among other things. I have to consider, have their screen-based interests evolved or changed? How are school demands different? Have my views changed?
Some things remain the same. I still want them to get enough sleep and have enough uninterrupted time for homework. I want them to have time and motivation for creative and athletic involvements, family, and friends. I want to support them in practicing habits that build self-control. You can see Tessa's latest contract here. We also created a template to help you jumpstart an agreement.
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As summer break nears its final days and I see the fall frenzy of school-and-everything-else schedules coming my way, I am preparing for the transition. As I envision the back-to-school scene for our family, I know we have a lot of adjustments to make to get ourselves into “fall mode.” Amidst considerations around supplies, extracurriculars, transportation, and meals is of course…managing screen time.
Last year’s rules fit us pretty well. Summer rules incorporated our summer lifestyles. But this fall — kids are a year older, among other things. I have to consider, have their screen-based interests evolved or changed? How are school demands different? Have my views changed?
Some things remain the same. I still want them to get enough sleep and have enough uninterrupted time for homework. I want them to have time and motivation for creative and athletic involvements, family, and friends. I want to support them in practicing habits that build self-control. You can see Tessa's latest contract here. We also created a template to help you jumpstart an agreement.
I've been noticing the ways I can be rude, in person and on my phone. This week I share two recent examples of my own, plus why correcting myself out loud strengthens self-awareness. The talk that follows isn't about your kid. It's about you going first.
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An Oakland library has started lending out sports equipment and games alongside books, so families can borrow gear to use at nearby parks. It is a reminder that borrowing and lending between families is a simple way to fill a summer afternoon without a screen, while quietly modelling generosity and humility. We are out of practice at asking, but the person on the other end is usually glad to help.
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E-readers are convenient, but there are three reasons to lean toward paper books this summer. First, e-readers are screens, and the pull of everything else you could do on one makes it harder to stay immersed. Second, a large meta-analysis found people understand and remember slightly better on paper, especially with longer texts. Third, easy access to endless book samples makes it too tempting to jump ship rather than work through the slower parts, since reading, unlike TikTok, is about delayed gratification.
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.
