Is All Screen Time Equal? 3 Guiding Principles
How to evaluate your child's time online.
The phrase "screen time" has become deeply ingrained in our thinking, and mostly it has bad connotations. But it is important to differentiate between productive and unproductive time on phones, computers, and tablets. Here are a few ways to guide you in evaluating your child's screen time.
How do you judge if the screen time is good or not?
Is your child engaging or creating something? If this is the case, screen time is great! The screen is a portal for your child to learn, make things, and grow.
Is there a positive social component? Listen in on the conversation. Do you hear appropriate, thoughtful conversations? Are kids working together as a team and learning to navigate social interactions?
Does your intuition tell you there might be better ways for your child to engage? Trust your intuition! But, ask your child questions as well. Why do you like this? How do you feel after playing for an hour? Make your decision based on your observations, but don't shy away from discussing it with your child. You may discover that you've made incorrect assumptions. Listen and learn together and explain your concerns to your child.
If the activity your child is doing passes numbers 1 and 2, you've got a good activity. Also, sometimes your child just needs downtime. We all do!
Beginning next week, we have engaging spring break camps both online and in-person. Your child will socialize with other students, and have fun while learning new things. Please sign up here or call us at 212 245-0444.