By Collett SmartThursday 14 Apr 2022ParentingReading Time: 3 minutes
Nature is known to provide cognitive benefits and enhance our overall physical and mental wellbeing. Yet, some tweens can spend too much time on technology and sees them not getting enough exercise or spending enough time outdoors.
So, how do we help our young people create a healthy screen time balance?
How much screen time is too much?
That is the question I get asked at every seminar I run.
The answer: “It depends!”
There is no easy answer to how much time your child should be allowed with technology, because not all screen time is equal.
Psychologist Jocelyn Brewer (who I reference in my book They’ll Be Okay) developed the concept of “Digital Nutrition”.
She reframes “screen time balance” as “Digital Nutrition” and this is what Jocelyn has to say: “Imagine that apps and games came with nutritional labels to help us understand their impacts.”
“Imagine we considered the way we consume digital content the way we have learned to consider food and its impact on our wellbeing.
“Imagine that we understood the ‘virtual vitamins’ contained in the activities we engage with online and made choices from a more informed perspective.”
So instead of banning screen time, we need to help our young people to critically consider their screen content, as well as to engage in healthy, enjoyable physical activities.
Start by setting a clear Screen Time Plan
Structure is required around when, and for how long, your tween and teens can use entertainment media, such as online games, movies and social media. Also, add suggestions for offline activities.
Your plan should also include consideration for controlled access by a parent (for younger teens), age restrictions for games and movies, and natural consequences for overstepping the boundaries.
Some boundaries might include:
- A balance of screen time and “green time” (literally, seeing nature) activities. For example, encourage tweens to spend one hour outside after a one-hour session on a screen (in the garden, at a park, kicking a ball, jumping on a trampoline).
- Thinking about healthy online places to hang out.
- Non-screen entertainment options (board games, reading a book, playing an instrument, dancing, cuddling pets, art, swimming …).
- Developing a mix of face-to-face socialising opportunities (at sport, music lessons, youth group, scouts, family dinners and so on).
- A list of daily physical activity. It is recommended that teens aged 13–17 engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity every day, irrespective of cultural background, gender, socioeconomic status, and ability.
- Devices need to be in a shared visible place in the home, and ensure that all technology (including your teen’s phone) is out of bedrooms at night. This is a VITAL part of healthy tech habits.
- Agreed bedtimes per age, with screens switched off around one to two hours before bed (to calm overstimulated brains).
- What to do if something disturbing or inappropriate for tweens and teens pops up on (or gets sent to) their devices. HINT: Tell them you will not ban the device. Verbalise how proud you are that they came to talk with you about it.
- How parents will model healthy screen time habits.
One last thought
Get your tweens and teens involved in creating the Screen Time Plan with you, as soon as they get their own devices (phone, iPad, laptop, Xbox …) Tweens are often more inclined to stick to a plan they feel they were part of creating. Of course, you are the parent, and so some things will be non-negotiable.
Oh, and put your plan up as a tangible list on the fridge – if your child needs reminding.
Article supplied with thanks to Raising Teenagers and listen now to every episode of Collett Smart’s Raising Teens podcast.
About the Author: Collett Smart is a psychologist, qualified teacher, speaker and internationally published author. She lives with her husband and 3 children in Sydney, Australia. The heart of Collett’s work is to support and bring hope to parents of tweens and teens.