By Dr. Christine Sloss and Laura Davidson
We are aware that during this time of social distancing and being at home, children and adolescents are bored and isolated, and so are spending much more time than usual on technology. Technology is an important part of their culture and generation, and has been a tremendous aid for learning and connection. Technology can also be problematic if it interferes with a more balanced or healthy lifestyle and interferes with sleep and other activities. Technology can also be a landmine of age inappropriate information and opportunities. It is extremely important that we, as parents, be aware of the extent and purposes of our children and adolescent’s technology use at this time. We need to educate ourselves and be prepared to discuss our concerns and set limits on technology use when necessary.
Below are some helpful and informative articles on parenting and technology:
- Parenting, Media and Everything in Between: 18 Social Media Apps and Sites Kids are Using Right Now
- This article informs parents about the different texting apps, photos/video sharing apps, microblogging apps, live-streaming video apps, self-destructive/secret apps, chatting, meeting and dating apps that their children may using and the important information to be aware of.
- Should You Worry About Kid’s Screen Time in This Pandemic?
- This article informs parents about Dr. Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, and how we can relate it to screen time during this pandemic. This article allows parents to read about “When you shouldn’t worry about too much screen time” and “When excessive screen time might cause some problems”
- Media Habits During COVID-19 Children and Teens on Screens in Quarantine
- This article allows parents to understand more about the screen time habits while in quarantine and when screen time is appropriate or too much.
- Coronavirus: 5 tips for navigating children’s screen time during social distancing
- This article shares 5 helpful tips for parents to know about screen time during this pandemic.
- 5 Ways to Monitor Your Child’s Screen Time
- This article provides 5 tactics that parents can incorporate into their lives to monitor their children’s screen time.
- 5 Apps for Parents to Monitor and Limit Screen Time
- This article provides examples of apps that parents can download to put limits on their children’s screen time while monitoring what they are doing online.
Images
Jacobs, H. (n.d.). GIF: Family Surfing on Cell Phone. How and When to Limit Kids’ Tech Use. The New York Times.