Reflecting on Screen Use

Screen time use has changed a lot for many children and families during the pandemic. Some of us have been learning and working from home, visiting family on Zoom, travelling through television, and playing online games with friends. Children have experienced the stressors of regular routine changes, decreased opportunities for socialization, and knowing that there were big things happening in the world around them. As adults, we may have used our screens to connect and to disconnect as needed over the past couple of years. All of that is completely understandable.  

Many COVID-19 restrictions are easing up, and warmer weather is on the way. There will be a lot more to do in the Spring and Summer seasons this year - from getting outside to parks to participating in events, or just heading out for a playdate. 

As opportunities to socialize, spend time outdoors, and attend events increase, you might be looking at ways to assess or modify some of your family’s screen time habits. 

A school-aged child works on a coding sequence using physical objects and a tablet.

A school-aged child works on an coding sequence using physical objects and a tablet.

The first step is for each member of your family to take some time to reflect. You can ask young children questions to help you both consider their feelings about and the impact of screen time. 

Consider:

  • How does your screen time use make you feel during and after?

  • What screen or media activities are adding enjoyment or value to your lives? In what way?

  • Are you modelling the screen or media practices you would like your children to develop?

  • Is everyone enjoying a balance of activities that they find meaningful?

  • Are there any habits you’d like to change? Are there new habits or routines you’d like to try?

For some practical suggestions on modifying screen time practices, Maria (a nursing student) has put together the following visual series of suggestions for building healthy screen time habits for children and families. 

Text reads, “Engaging Screentime: 4 Helpful Tips” and shares tips and examples for managing children’s and family screen time habits. Tips include watch with your child, use active screen time, plan & assess, and model healthy screen habits.

You can find more suggestions and ideas on screen time practices and children’s media content in this blog post from 2020. 

With good habits in place, media and information, and the tools we use to access it, can add great enjoyment and value to our lives. We use our phones, tablets, computers, and televisions to connect with our loved ones, to learn and share information, to learn new skills, to laugh, and to understand more about the world. Let’s help our children develop healthy lifelong screen and media habits, too.

Childreach