Most children have a smartphone when they are just ten years old or younger, and even more have tablets, a personal television, a computer, video game consoles, and countless other tech trinkets and toys.
There’s no way to live without technology, so how do we teach our kids to live with it?
Does Technology Harm Children?
You don’t have to look far to see a group of kids–some shockingly young–sucked into their phones. We see the alarming effects of cell phone addiction, such as:
- Mental Health Issues: anxiety, depression, and attention deficits are at an all-time high, leading to learning disabilities, self-harm, or poor quality of life
- Physical Health Issues: prolonged screen time can cause poor posture, eye strain, and sleep disturbances, while lack of exercise can cause obesity and other health problems.
- Social Health Issues: children don’t experience in-person interactions, which leads to loneliness and poor social skills. Children also experience high rates of social media bullying, which further perpetuates mental health issues.
Technology has many valuable assets, but it shouldn’t rule our lives. The way to live with technology is to remain in control of technology. Children must develop the self-control to say “no” to the impulses to check their phone, watch one more reel, or play five more minutes of video games. This is the only way for children to grow into healthy, well-rounded adults. Otherwise, they will live a life addicted to a screen.
It Starts With the Parent
Children are born mimickers, and who is easier to mimic than their parents? While there are times that parents can get away with “do as I say and not as I do,” this rarely applies to technology. Children immediately pick up on the hypocrisy. Mom and Dad are zoned out on their phones during dinner, their sports game, or even during a movie. Why can’t they do the same?
Even if your child doesn’t have a smartphone yet, your current phone behavior is laying the groundwork for how they anticipate using their phone once they do. You are modeling how that device is to be used, and most children will follow right in their parents’ footsteps.
Honestly Evaluate Your Phone Habits
Teaching your child to be in control of their technology starts with evaluating your own behavior. While there are several free tests to analyze your phone addiction, here are a few questions to get you started:
- Am I worried I’ll miss notifications?
- Is my phone the first thing I look at when I wake up?
- Do I become irritable or anxious if I don’t have my phone with me?
- Can I watch television without checking my phone?
- Do I use my phone during meals?
Honestly assessing yourself is the key to overcoming a phone addiction. Once you know your weaknesses, you can take control of your phone habits.
Using Technology Wisely
Of course, you will inevitably have to use technology, and there should be no guilt in this. The goal is not to eliminate technology, but to be in control of it.
Bringing your children into the purpose of technology helps them know why you’re using it, but also that you’re in control of how much time you spend. The more you can emphasize that the technology has fulfilled its purpose and needs to be put away, the better.
- “I’m sending Daddy a message about tonight’s game and then I’m putting my phone down.”
- “My boss is counting on me to finish this presentation for tomorrow. I’m going to close the computer when I’m done. ”
- “I’m ordering yummy food for this week. Do you have ideas?”
Set Boundaries For Your Kids
Your child is never too young to set boundaries with technology. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time for babies under 18 months, and only less than an hour for 18-24 months. Children two to five years old should only have one hour of quality programming.
Many families would benefit from designated technology time and non-technology time. For instance, kids might need to decompress right after school and could benefit from 30 to 60 minutes of technology time of their choice. But then there should be a designated non-technology time, especially around mealtimes and before bed.
Give Your Kids a Bright Future
Teaching your child to be in control of technology is an invaluable life skill. Start by being in control of technology for yourself. Once you are effectively modeling healthy tech habits, your child will be more likely to follow through on their own tech boundaries.