Digital Families --Balancing Screen Time and Family Time

"Business baby must-haves: laptop, cell phone, bottle." by "nezemnaya" Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC-BY2.0). Accessed 15 February 2017. https://www.flickr.com/photos/_nezemnaya_/3404683624

With increasing numbers of computers, smartphones, and other digital devices in homes, many families are faced with how to balance digital screen time with non-digital family time.  In a recent study by Common Sense Media, 1,800 parents of children aged 8 to 18 were found to spend an average of 9 hours and 22 minutes a day in front of a computer device, 7 of those hours being for personal use. Since children often model their behavior after that of their parents, families can help their children learn how to balance screen time and family time by setting and following rules about computer use for everyone in the home. In a recent article in The New York Times, Dr. Perri Klass suggests families create 5 "No-Phone Zones" as a way to limit screen time.  

5 NO Smartphone Zones:

1. In bed.
2. At dining table.
3. While reading a book to your child.  
4. In the outdoors. (Only use phone as camera or for emergency).
5. In the car.

For more tips on parenting in the digital age, visit Common Sense Media at www.commonsensemedia.org.

Reference

Klass, P. (2017, January 23). 5 No-phone zones for parents and kids alike. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/23/well/family/5-no-phone-zones-for-parents-and-kids-alike.html