Welcome to an engaging discussion on parenting in today’s digital world. I’m Tali, and joining me is Jennifer from Common Sense. We’re thrilled to explore how we can navigate the digital landscape as parents. Technology offers numerous opportunities but also presents challenges. Our goal is to find a balance, ensure our children are thriving, and model positive technology use. Being a role model doesn’t mean we always get it right, but it involves discussing our choices and struggles with our children. We want technology to serve us, not the other way around.
Let’s start by evaluating if your child is doing well. Consider these questions as a checklist:
Reflecting on these questions can help you gauge your child’s overall well-being.
Family media agreements are essential for setting rules and expectations around media and device use. These agreements help establish screen-free zones in the home, such as the dinner table, bedrooms, and bathrooms. It’s also crucial to set rules for safe device use, like avoiding screens during walks to school.
For older children, discuss the importance of taking care of devices and staying safe online. Conversations about what makes someone a friend and what information is appropriate to share online, especially in gaming contexts, are vital as they begin to connect socially on platforms.
Finding a balance between screen time and daily routines can be challenging, but consistency is key. Reinforcing healthy habits helps them become second nature for your children. Open communication is essential. Listen to your kids about their media use and interests. Engage with them on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat to better understand their world.
Keep the media agreement visible, perhaps on the fridge, to maintain ongoing conversations. It’s not a one-time discussion but a regular check-in. Family activity sheets for different age groups can help continue the dialogue. Questions like “How are we using our devices?” or “Are we getting enough sleep?” promote healthy habits.
As children grow, encourage them to reflect on what makes them feel good and understand the difference between active and passive media use. Communication is the foundation of these discussions. Finding time for conversations can be challenging, so start small. A few questions each week show your kids that you’re interested in their lives.
We offer resources, including family media agreements and tips for making healthy media choices, available in both English and Spanish.
Before we conclude, consider three practices you can implement at home based on our discussion. Remember, this is a work in progress. Instant results are rare, and ongoing conversation is essential. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to see you again soon!
Engage in a workshop where you assess your child’s well-being using the provided checklist. Discuss with peers how these indicators can be observed and measured in daily life. Share strategies on how to address any areas of concern and promote overall well-being.
Participate in a role-playing exercise to create a family media agreement. Work in groups to simulate family discussions, negotiating rules and expectations around media use. This activity will help you practice communication skills and understand different perspectives within a family setting.
Join a challenge to balance screen time with daily routines. Track your own media use for a week and reflect on how it impacts your daily activities. Share your findings with the group and brainstorm ways to integrate healthier habits into your routine.
Start a journaling activity focused on reflection and communication. Write about your experiences with media use, both active and passive, and how it affects your mood and productivity. Share excerpts with classmates to foster a discussion on the importance of mindful media consumption.
Collaborate with peers to develop resources that promote healthy media choices. Create materials such as family media agreements, tips for safe online interactions, or guides for balancing screen time. Present your projects to the class and discuss how these resources can be implemented in real-life scenarios.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
Hello and welcome! Thank you so much for joining Common Sense to talk about parenting in a digital age. I’m Tali, and this is Jennifer. Would you like to introduce yourself?
Hello, everybody! Jennifer here with Common Sense. We’re really excited to talk to you today about navigating this digital world. We know technology is here to stay, bringing a myriad of opportunities and some real challenges. For the next 10 minutes, we’ll focus on finding balance, knowing if our kids are doing okay, and how we can be models for them. Being a model doesn’t mean we always do everything right with technology, but it means we talk to our kids about our choices, behaviors, and the things we’re struggling with. We want technology to work for us rather than feeling controlled by it.
We’ll start by discussing how to check if your child is doing okay, then we’ll talk about screen time, setting rules and expectations, and keeping the conversation going.
Jennifer, let’s begin with a well-being checklist. I’ll read some statements, and I’d like you to reflect on whether they apply to you. Think about this for your kids as well. This is a checklist I revisit as a parent when I have concerns.
First, Jennifer, are your kids physically healthy? Are they sleeping enough?
Yes, I think so.
Are they connecting socially with family and friends in any form, whether in person, at school, or virtually?
Yes.
Do they seem engaged in school? Are they achieving in school? Do they feel excited about school?
For the most part, yes. I have a first grader, and they usually feel excited about school in ideal situations.
Are they pursuing interests and hobbies? Are there things that excite them and that they want to learn more about?
Absolutely.
When they use digital media, are they having fun and learning?
Yes, it’s a work in progress.
Great! Now, let’s talk about family media agreements and finding balance at home.
Family media agreements are essentially the rules for media and device use in our homes. They outline our expectations as we give more screen time and responsibility. With these agreements, we can discuss identifying screen-free zones. For example, in my house, those zones include the dinner table, bedrooms, and the bathroom.
We also have set rules for our daily walks to school, reminding the kids not to use their devices while walking, as it can be dangerous.
For older children, it’s important to set expectations about taking care of devices and staying safe, especially as they start connecting socially on platforms.
As kids get older, we can discuss what makes someone a friend and what information is appropriate to share online, especially in gaming contexts.
Balancing screen time and routines can be challenging, but consistency is key. The more we reinforce these habits, the more natural they become for our kids.
As parents, we also need to ensure communication is open. We should listen to our kids about their media use and what they enjoy. It’s important to meet them where they are and discuss any concerns we have.
We should also embrace their interests in platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. Asking them about their experiences can help us understand their world better.
Keeping the media agreement visible, like on the fridge, can help maintain ongoing conversations. It’s not a one-time discussion; it’s about checking in regularly.
We also have family activity sheets for different grade levels to keep the conversation going. Asking questions like, “How are we using our devices?” or “Are we getting enough sleep?” can help build healthy habits.
As kids grow older, we want them to reflect on what makes them feel good and understand the difference between active and passive media use.
Communication is the foundation of these discussions. It can be challenging to find time for conversations, so starting small is important. A few questions a week can show your kids that you’re interested in their lives.
We have resources available, including family media agreements and tips for making healthy media choices, available in both English and Spanish.
Before we wrap up, think about three things you can practice at home with your kids based on what we discussed today. Remember, this is a work in progress. We often expect instant results, but it takes time and ongoing conversation.
Thank you so much for joining us, and we hope to see you again soon!
Parenting – The process of raising and educating a child from birth until adulthood, encompassing all the responsibilities and activities involved in nurturing and guiding a child’s development. – Effective parenting requires a balance of discipline and support to foster a child’s growth and well-being.
Technology – The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry, which significantly impacts various aspects of daily life, including health and social interactions. – The integration of technology in healthcare has improved patient outcomes through advanced diagnostic tools and telemedicine.
Well-being – The state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy, often considered in terms of physical, mental, and social health. – Promoting employee well-being in the workplace can lead to increased productivity and job satisfaction.
Media – The main means of mass communication, such as television, radio, newspapers, and the internet, which play a crucial role in shaping public opinion and disseminating information. – The media’s portrayal of health issues can significantly influence public awareness and behavior.
Agreements – Mutual understandings or arrangements between parties, often formalized in writing, that outline specific terms and conditions. – International agreements on climate change are essential for coordinating global efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
Screen – A flat panel or area on an electronic device where images and data are displayed, often used in the context of digital communication and media consumption. – Excessive screen time can negatively impact children’s social skills and physical health.
Routines – Regular, repeated patterns of behavior or activities that provide structure and predictability in daily life. – Establishing healthy routines can improve mental health and enhance productivity.
Communication – The process of exchanging information, ideas, or feelings between individuals or groups, which is essential for effective collaboration and relationship building. – Open communication between healthcare providers and patients is crucial for successful treatment outcomes.
Reflection – The process of introspection and thoughtful consideration of one’s experiences and actions, often leading to personal growth and improved decision-making. – Reflection on past projects can provide valuable insights for future improvements in professional practice.
Habits – Regular practices or routines that are often performed subconsciously and can significantly impact one’s health and lifestyle. – Developing healthy eating habits is essential for maintaining long-term physical well-being.
