You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em
Know when to fold ‘em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run ~
Ah, Kenny Rogers…so wise 😉
Parents/caretakers, you and I hold similar cards with “screen time, ” and we’re all-in (like it or not). Digital life is definitely a part of summer fun, & something worth planning for. Are you ready!?
As kids grow more independent and capable, assertive in their own right, every season looks different from the previous, and this conversation does too. I’m learning my way through tween-&-teenage years right now, and digital independence is a hot topic in our home. Shared perspective isn’t very easy at this stage. (not that it ever really was…but sometimes I think we need an interpreter. Ha, just kidding {?} Anyone relate? 🙂
Screen bargaining makes for a stressful home, so we need clarity from the start. With that said, I’ve come up with a few ideas (sharing here for comradery). Thinking it through was my first step. I’d love to hear your thoughts. What works for you?
Create a plan.
It’s going to be worthwhile. In your home, what are everyone’s
thoughts about healthy boundaries with technology?
Communicate the plan and Commit.
Our kids and everyone who is going to be taking care of them should have clear expectations this summer. (Surprises aren’t fun when it comes to this.)
Support the plan.
What are the consequences if boundaries are crossed? Are you going to give more
time or freedom for chores or other things?
4 Steps to a Safe Digital Summer || F A M I L I E S
Digital Freedom | Apps | Downloads | Media
(Saying yes, no, and maybe so…)
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What kinds of digital activity are you allowing for your kids? Why?
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How do your kids ask for new apps or games? (Can they approve downloads themselves, or do you talk about it first?)
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What filters/screen-monitoring do you have in place?
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Do you have strong passwords for the internet, Youtube, and other social media?
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How much time is given to gaming vs. productivity when they are on screens? (Technology can be advantageous in so many ways. That’s easy to forget when you’re young and free of commitments.)
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What kinds of purposeful things can technology be used for this summer? (What are your kids interested in? What kind of apps do they want to download? Is there a real-life skill they could be building on here? Summer is a good time to get to know each other better and encourage individuality.)
Technology At Home
(ClearExpectations)
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What kind of time restrictions do you have for screen use? Or –‘’What is the goal?” might be the better question. (I know it is for me.)
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Can your kids earn more time, or less, based on attitude or helpfulness? (This sounds like some kind of Pinterest idea that I never got to when my kids were younger. The charts and stickers and all of that was intimidating to keep up with. Why does it have to be so elaborate? It doesn’t!)
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How are expectations at home communicated? (Do or don’t do a chart. We’re all different. What works for you?)
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Where do devices go when they aren’t in use? Do you have a charging station or something like that?
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A written plan | “Technology Contract” I’ve always thought the idea of a family contract for screens is a good idea. It’s never too late to start! Instead of being discouraged that we never did, our family’s going to begin this summer. There are a ton of ideas for how to do this. {I’ll be posting mine on the blog soon! – because that’s my accountability to get it done.} Do you have one for your family?
Technology Away From Home
(Trust, Limits, & Reason)
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What kind of networking are your kids doing when they are with friends, a team, or other childcare?
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Have you communicated internet safety enough with your kids? Do they know when something isn’t safe or appropriate? (With so many different family values and spectrum of choices, what kind of foundation do they stand on?
*Sleepovers are a big part of this. I’ve read plenty of articles, even one is enough, about first time & ongoing exposure to pornography, pedophilia, or bullying at sleepovers. When we send our kids off to stay with someone else, there needs to be peace of mind here! I felt really inspired after reading this post by Monica Swanson. I’m working on some ideas for our family in this area. Communication between parents is a super big must.
Technology Role Modeling
(Actions vs. Words)
It’s one thing to set limits for the kids, but how about us? Eek. I’m so convicted. Can I shut it all off in a moment’s notice? We’re telling our kids to get outside and curbing their screen habits, but what about ours? In a perfect world, I’d be self-controlled here. I’d set aside limited time each day for technology. I think we all would.
Our kids will be watching us this summer, taking cues about how we manage time. (It’s honestly one of the greatest challenges for me as a parent.) But that’s not a bad thing. It’s ok when our kids see us struggle here. Maybe it gives them a chance to support us too!
I know that having a plan for all of this is going to make summer a lot more fun, and that’s what it’s all about! Counting down the days now:)
As always, thank you for joining here!
Together we thrive~
Ayme
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