Screen use and digital media: Advice for parents of school-aged children and teens

The amount of time that children and youth spend online is concerning to many parents, as well as kids themselves. Time online affects sleep, mental health, and physical activity levels. When kids are on their devices, they are usually not learning, interacting with friends and family, playing, or enjoying the outdoors. Solitary screen use also increases the chance that they’ll be exposed to negative or harmful content.

So what can parents do? Actually, quite a bit. The key is to pay attention, get involved, and model positive media habits. Here are some specific suggestions, along with additional resources to explore in more detail.

MANAGE screen use through plans, rules, and limits.

• Make and regularly review or revise a Family Media Plan, which is a document that describes how and when each member of your family uses screens. The plan usually includes individualized use and content limits. Developing a media plan as a family is an opportunity to talk about how to develop healthier screen habits.
• Consider asking your child or teen to give you their phone at a certain time and/or at the end of the day so they aren’t interrupted with phone calls or text messages during family time or at bedtime.
• Be present and engaged when screens are used and, whenever possible, watch together and talk about the content.
• Discourage media multitasking—being on more than one screen at a time-- especially during homework.
• Learn about parental controls and privacy settings. 
• Know your child or teen’s passwords and login information for all devices and social media accounts. This will help ensure safety online and allow you to follow online profiles and activities if concerns arise.
• Speak with children and teens about acceptable and unacceptable online behaviours.

Encourage MEANINGFUL screen use, so that time spent online serves a purpose.

• Make sure daily routines come first: face-to-face interactions, school, sleep, healthy meals and snacks, and physical activity.
• Encourage your child to watch content that helps teach, such as shows about nature, science, the arts, music or history.
• Help children and teens to choose content that’s appropriate for their age and stage.
• Be a part of your children’s media lives. For example, join in during video game play and ask about their experiences and encounters online.
• Ask your child’s school, after school program or childcare centre whether they have a plan for digital literacy and screen use.

MODEL healthy screen use, because your kids are watching you.

• Review your own media habits: Plan time for hobbies, outdoor play and activities.
• Never text or use headphones while driving, walking, jogging or biking.
• Encourage daily “screen-free” times, especially for family meals and socializing.
• Turn screens off when not in use, including background TV.
• Avoid screens at least 1 hour before bedtime and keep recreational screens out of bedrooms.

How much is too much?

Watch for signs that screen use is becoming a problem, such as:

• Your child complains about being bored or unhappy without access to technology.
• Oppositional behaviour when you set limits on screen use.
• Screen use is interfering with sleep, school or face-to-face interactions.
• Screen use is interfering with offline play, physical activities or socializing with friends and family. 
• Negative emotions after interacting online, playing video games or while texting.

Talk to your child’s doctor if these signs persist, or if they interfere with family life.