o anxiety, some unplugged time may improve their sleep. A current study involving teens ages 14 to 19 finds that more video game and computer time was harmful to the sleep of teens who were prone to anxiety.
Implementing a screen cut-off time well before bedtime may help your kids sleep at night.
Blue light is fine during the day, but people who use electronic media at night can experience sleep disruption. Disordered sleep can eventually contribute to health issues like:
- mental health conditions
To set children up for success, it’s worth considering encouraging technology-free bedrooms at night.
Once a child or teen is absorbed in scrolling YouTube or TikTok, or playing a favorite video game, it can be hard to transition them to the tedium of schoolwork or chores. Instead, you might find “temptation bundling” an effective motivator.
Temptation bundling: Here’s how it works
Think: Do what you have to do to unlock what you want to do.
The prioritization strategy involves completing an undesirable chore to access a desirable activity.
If you try this, keep in mind the circadian-disruptive effects of blue light in the evening. It’s important to stick to the evening screen cut-off even if the less desired task takes longer than usual.
As your kid gets older, they might object to the way you monitor their social media and video games. However, it’s important to stay involved to some degree, since teens can still encounter trouble online.
It’s easy to supervise when they watch TV, but a cellphone presents new challenges because of its size and portability. There are still some steps you can take to oversee their tech use:
- install parental controls on all devices
- ensure they use age-appropriate technology
- educate teens on the dangers of sexting
- educate teens on porn literacy
- allow social media profiles only if you have access to their password
Another way to supervise is to have your own account on the platforms of interest and participate (within reason!).
Supervise by sharing interests
- If your kid has Snapchat, perhaps you get it too and share Snaps.
- If they frequent Discord for gaming banter you might add a profile and play the games while chatting now and then.
This gives you a firsthand look at their online activity. It also gives you another way to connect because when you join them in a pastime they love, it sends the message that their interests matter to you.
The internet contains a wealth of information and resources, and it doesn’t have to be harmful. Limits and boundaries can reduce the chances that your child might encounter adverse experiences online.
Parent modeling can be a powerful influence. Your child may be more inclined to respect internet boundaries if they see you set the same limits for yourself.
Reduced screen time for yourself and your kids has another important upside: You’ll have more time to spend enjoying face-to-face activities together.