Imagine for a moment that your child is sitting on the couch, iPad in hand, playing a game that helps them improve their math skills. You watch them for a few moments, then step away to start dinner. Then, the phone rings and you spend a few minutes chatting with your friend about an upcoming social event. You return, get back to cooking, and before you know it an hour has passed.
Your child is still on the couch, still on their iPad. But do you still know what they’re up to?
Unsupervised screen time happens every day
A study from Common Sense Media revealed that 98% of families with children have smartphones. Additionally, elementary-aged children use their devices for about 2 hours a day, while tweens ages 11-13 use them about 6 hours a day and teenagers are plugged in for a whopping 9 hours a day! While a good bit of this time might occur in an educational setting, sometimes children end up having unsupervised screen time that doesn’t serve academic purposes.
Unsupervised screen time can lead to children viewing inappropriate content online, entering into unsafe situations, and even using social media to engage in or become victims of cyberbullying.
What is unsupervised screen time?
Any time you don’t know what your child is looking at, purchasing, or engaging in online, they’re participating in unsupervised screen time. Even if you’re in the same room as them, they can be unsupervised.
It’s difficult to watch your child constantly, especially when digital devices are so ubiquitous. But allowing your child to wander the web without restriction can lead to serious consequences. From unexpected phone bills to serious safety issues, keeping screen time supervised and safe is a top priority for most parents.
But how do you make it happen in a way that allows your child to feel protected without feeling stifled?
As a parent, how can you avoid unsupervised screen time?
The Family Media Plan from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), provides an excellent resource for intentional time on devices. It’s an interactive online tool that allows parents to work with their kids to agree on rules governing screen time in their family. Here are a few of our takeaways:
Choose screen-free places and times
The AAP recommends that the bedroom and kitchen are both screen-free zones for children and adults alike. Research has shown that having a device in the bedroom, and particularly using it close to bedtime, can disrupt sleep and increase anxiety. Having a screen-free kitchen turns family meals into bonding times full of conversation rather than texting.
In addition to having places that are off limits, the AAP recommends having times of the day where screens aren’t permitted. Some ideas include family time, meal time, bedtime, while walking outside, or while doing homework. The AAP also recommends that devices charge overnight in a location like the living room or kitchen to eliminate the possibility of unsupervised screen time at night.
Decide what screen time should look like in your family.
As a family, have a conversation about what you want out of screen time and media. Do you want to use Skype to connect with friends and family that live far away? Do you want to co-view some family-friendly television shows together? Do you want to use educational apps to improve your child’s learning experience? Come to a shared understanding of the purpose of screen time and set up your “house rules” as a family.
Enjoy life away from the screen.
As a family, come up with 3-5 activities you enjoy doing together that do not involve screens. It could be cooking dinner together, going on a hike, playing in the backyard, or playing a board game together. Make sure your days and weeks include a balance between screen time and non-screen time, making sure to include some sort of physical activity every day. Children also need 9-12 hours of sleep a night, so make sure screen time doesn’t interfere with getting to bed on time.
Intentionally teach cyber safety and digital citizenship
Ultimately, your goal as a parent is to raise a responsible digital citizen, but this needs to be explicitly taught! Have a conversation with your children about what information is and isn’t okay to share with strangers online. Talk about cyberbullying and stress that typing words is just as hurtful as saying them to someone’s face. Make sure your child is smartphone savvy, and knows when to put the phone away; even when you’re not together, make sure they always put the phone at meal time and don’t ignore people because they’re glued to their screens.
By having a family meeting and agreeing on a plan together, you’ll be able to better understand what your child likes about digital tools and be able to use them to learn and grow as a family.
Coming soon: Get started with the Cyber City books — designed specifically to help your young child learn how to thrive in a digital world and have fun doing it
Sources Used:
American Academy of Pediatrics, Family Media Plan
Newcastle Herald, Stranger Danger Online and in the Home
NPR, At Your Wit’s End With a Screen-Obsessed Kid?
