SD43 Family and Community Learning Series, a comprehensive series dedicated to Student Wellness and Safety. This series is designed to address current trends and pivotal topics in child and youth well-being and development, acknowledging the dynamic nature of our world today.
Thank you for registering for the “Building Safer Screen Time Habits” as part of the 2024-25 Family & Community Learning Series. We had a fantastic turnout and there were lots of questions. We did our best to address as many as possible. We apologize for any that we weren’t able to answer during the session. The great news is that we were able to record the session, and it will be accessible for viewing until March 28, 2025.
WHY IS LEARNING ABOUT SCREEN TIME HABITS BENEFICIAL TO WELLNESS?
Learning more about screen time habits is important for several reasons:
- Informed Decision-Making: Understanding the impact of screen time helps individuals make informed choices about their digital consumption, balancing screen use with other activities.
- Health and Well-being: Knowledge about screen time effects can lead to better physical and mental health. For instance, reducing screen time before bed can improve sleep quality.
- Productivity and Focus: Being aware of how different types of screen use affect productivity and cognitive function can help people manage their time more effectively.
- Social Interactions: Learning about screen time habits can enhance social skills by encouraging more face-to-face interactions and reducing reliance on digital communication1.
- Personal Growth: Understanding the nuances of screen time can foster personal growth by promoting activities that stimulate creativity and critical thinking.
By teaching healthy screen time habits, we can help individuals make informed decisions about their screen use, promoting a balanced lifestyle that supports overall well-being and development.
Screen time refers to the amount of time spent using electronic devices with screens, such as smartphones, tablets, computers, and televisions. It typically includes activities like browsing the internet, watching videos, playing games, and using social media. Many people are concerned about excessive screen time, especially for children, as it can potentially have negative effects on physical and mental health, sleep patterns, and social interactions. Various tools and techniques exist to help individuals monitor and manage their screen time to ensure a healthy balance with other activities.
Digital media is the content transmitted over the Internet or computer networks on all devices.
Recommended Screen Time Guidelines:
- Children aged 2 to 5 years: Limit screen time to no more than one hour per day of high-quality programming, and co-view with them to help them understand what they are watching.
- Children aged 6 years and older: Establish consistent limits on screen time and ensure that it does not interfere with adequate sleep, physical activity, and other behaviors essential to health.
- Excessive screen time can have negative effects on children’s health and development.
- Children who spend too much time in front of screens are at risk of becoming overweight, experiencing sleep deprivation, being less school-ready, having reduced attention spans, and struggling with self-soothing.
Creating Healthy Habits
Set Limits: Establish rules and share them with other adults in your child’s life. For children younger than 2 years, avoid screen time altogether. For ages 2 to 5, limit it to less than 1 hour per day.
Be a Good Example: Model healthy screen time habits by engaging with your child through play and books rather than screens.
Encouraging Activities to Engage in instead of spending time on screens:
Sports: Soccer, basketball, baseball, tennis, swimming, cycling, skateboarding, and other organized sports or recreational activities.
Nature exploration: Hiking, camping, birdwatching, fishing, exploring local parks, or simply going for a walk in nature.
Outdoor games: Tag, hide and seek, capture the flag, kickball, Frisbee, hopscotch, jump rope, or creating obstacle courses.
Gardening: Planting flowers, vegetables, or herbs in a garden or pot, and learning about the natural world through hands-on experience.
Creative play: Building forts, making nature art, collecting leaves or rocks for crafting, or engaging in imaginative play outdoors.
Adventure activities: Rock climbing, zip-lining, ropes courses, or any other outdoor adventure sport available in your area.
Water activities: Swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, surfing, or simply playing in a sprinkler or with water toys on a hot day.
Community events: Participating in community sports leagues, attending outdoor concerts, festivals, or farmers markets, or volunteering for environmental clean-up efforts.
These activities not only provide physical exercise but also foster creativity, curiosity, and a deeper connection with the natural world.
It's also essential to consider the quality of screen time. Not all screen activities are equal; educational and interactive content can be more beneficial than passive consumption like watching cartoons or playing simple games. Additionally, parents should encourage a balanced lifestyle that includes physical activity, social interaction, and other forms of learning and entertainment. Ultimately, parents and caregivers should tailor screen time limits to their child's individual needs and monitor their impact on their overall well-being.
Resourceful Links to Learn More:
Documentaries to Watch:
SD43 PARENT RESOURCES | DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP & ONLINE SAFETY
2024-2025
Session 3: “Building Safer Screen Time Habits"
Virtual session: Wednesday, February 5, 2025 6:30- 8:00 pm
Audience: Open to all community members and parent/caregivers of all grade levels.
"Building Safer Screen Time Habits" will be an informative session designed to help users understand and manage screen time effectively for themselves and their children. This session will delve into the various features and settings available on Apple devices that promote healthier digital habits. It will cover topics such as setting app limits, scheduling downtime, and monitoring usage patterns. This session also provides practical tips for balancing screen time with offline activities, ensuring that users can enjoy their devices without compromising their well-being. Whether you're a parent looking to manage your child's screen time or an individual aiming to reduce digital distractions, you will gain valuable insights and tools to help you achieve a healthier relationship with the technology that surrounds us.
Session 2: “Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition (55 minutes) Viewing link available – November 15, 2024 – December 15, 2024Pre-registration is required to get the viewing link emailed to you after registration. Audience: Open to all community members and parent/caregivers. This documentary is also beneficial for viewing for early middle school parents. About the documentary:
This new version of the original Screenagers movie addresses issues that elementary school aged kids, parents and educators are facing, i.e., smartwatches in class, unhooking from and monitoring video gaming, social media pressures, exposure too young and what research shows is a healthy amount of screen time. With many solutions to these and other challenges.
In
Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition, Dr. Ruston takes a deeply personal approach as she explores the vulnerable corners of family life, including her own, to explore struggles over social media, video games, academics, and internet addiction.
Through insights from authors, psychologists, and brain scientists, Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition reveals how tech time impacts kids’ development and offers solutions for empowering kids to navigate the digital world and find balance.
Session 1: “Rethinking Social Media for a Better Understanding of our Children and Youth"
Date: Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Time: 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Presentation will be held via Zoom.
Audience: Open to all community members and parent/caregivers
Presenter: Madison Cameron, Youth Specialist Center for Trauma Informed Practices
This presentation is developed for parents and caregivers to help give them a better understanding of how kids use and perceive social media. In this presentation parents and caregivers will gain insight into apps that youth are using that adults may not be aware of as well as some of the ways social media can change the way youth perceive themselves and the world around them. It will also highlight that the differences in the human experience between youth and their parents/caregivers is not as great as what many believe. The wants and needs of children and their parents/caregivers (when they were children) have not changed. It is the adult perspective and thoughtful strategies that need to change to strengthen connections with those lost in their handheld devices.
This session will center on the crucial role parents play as a protective factor in their child's development, establishing a strong focus for this year's Family and Community Learning Series. Research shows that when parents are informed and actively involved in their children's lives, they are better equipped to provide the support and guidance needed during the challenging adolescent years. By fostering this connection, we can empower families to create nurturing environments that promote resilience and positive growth in youth.
