Summer tech security
Going into the summer months can be daunting when you're a working parent with kids at home. You might feel concerned about their screen time and the various un-monitored hours they could spend on their devices. Now is the best time to talk with your child about their device use and making sure that they understand you are their safe place!
Use this time to confirm with your child that they can talk to you about anything. You are there to keep them safe!
Remind them that you can look at their device at any time and if you are curious about something, that they will have a conversation with you and together you can work through the issue.
Give them the opportunity to be outside and spend time with friends without a device. There are lots of summer camps and fun activities this summer! Get your child out there!
I recommend creating a tech friendly summer plan to help your child feel like they're getting what they want while also getting what you feel is right for your family. One I use quite often is below. Have your child sign it, or hang it somewhere prominently so that the entire family is on the same page!
From wake-up time to 8am - TV shows only. No YouTube or games. If you have a whole home wifi router with parental controls, you can even block the wifi access until a certain time in the morning. Look into your router controls!
8am - after lunch time - Play time - Outside, building with legos, whatever this may look like without a device.
After lunch to 1:30 or 2 - Tech time - This time frame depends on when your child eats lunch, how old your child is, and if you have younger kids that take naps. You determine how long this time frame is!
2pm - After dinner - No tech! Play time just like the morning time slot
After dinner - bedtime - Tech time with a change to regular tv shows at least a half hour before bed. This means they can play a game, but at least a half hour before bed, all devices get turned off, and the family gathers around the tv for a show. This is also determined by how old your children are, what type of structure you have for bedtime, and if you want them to play outside again to enjoy the sunshine after dinner. You can adjust this to fit your needs!
Overall, I recommend no more than 2 hours of tech time for younger kids (with heavy monitoring and in public areas like the living room) and no more than 3 hours of tech time for the older kids (this includes face timing with friends, playing online games, and reading a book on a device) Break these times up throughout the day.
Your goal is to raise tech friendly adults. Show them the behaviors you want by demonstrating your own schedule throughout the day!
And remember, you can go to my website for more information on how to help your family be tech savvy!
Have a fun, engaging summer!