How to set screen time boundaries and help your kids live balanced digital lives

Thanks to technology, our kids are growing up in a vastly different world than we did.

The digital age offers incredible advantages and opportunities, but it can also make life feel a little more complicated than it used to. According to the Pew Research Center, over 95% of teens have access to smartphones and nearly half say they’re constantly online. This ubiquity isn’t going unnoticed by their parents: 65% of parents worry about their teens’ screen time. 

In order to become digital citizens, kids have to learn how to harness the powers of technology while staying safe and respectful. Charlotte Country Day makes this a priority in their classrooms and they have the credentials to prove it. They’re a Common Sense Digital Citizenship Certified School – learn more about their efforts to teach digital literacy and citizenship to young people here. 

For kids who are growing up as digital citizens, it can be hard to find a balance between online and offline life. This struggle is what motivated one Charlotte Country Day School student, Bennett Pittroff, to give up their phone for a week. 

During the week, Bennett learned the value of just doing nothing and also realized how distracting and stressful social media is.

“The instant gratification of a like or a repost brought me temporary joy, but in the long run left me feeling tired and saddened that my life was not as interesting as the people I was following.”

This isn’t to say you need to quit technology forever, but Bennett’s experience shows the benefits of using it in moderation. “I would encourage everyone to try what I did at least once, even if it is not for a week, because it really does open your eyes to how much technology affects you as a person and affects the world around us,” Bennett said. 

How to help your kids become better digital citizens

For parents who are raising digital citizens, it can be hard to make sure kids are using technology responsibly. Bill Mulcahy, Head of Lower School at Charlotte Country Day School, offers five tips to promote safe and balanced digital use at home. 

(1) Model being present with your children

If you’re always on your phone, your kids will likely notice and follow suit. Set boundaries for yourself so that your children can learn from you. If you don’t want them to use their phones at the dinner table, then leave yours behind, too. 

(2) Avoid using technology as a crutch

Encourage your kids to face their emotions head-on and come up with creative ways to combat boredom instead of always defaulting to technology for comfort and entertainment. Going on social media or opening their favorite app might be a quick solution for boredom, but you can help them come up with more productive ways to spend free time. 

(3) Know your children’s digital lives

Get familiar with the apps and websites your kids spend time on. If you show genuine interest in their online lives, chances are they’ll teach you something new. If you notice your kids are excited about a new app, ask them to show you how it works. If you understand the technology, you’ll be better equipped to help them use it responsibly. 

(4) Do your homework

Parenting in the digital age can be confusing, but you don’t have to do it alone. Common Sense Media is a great resource to find age-based information about technology. You can also check out local libraries for tools for creating safe online habits.

(5) Have conversations about responsible use

Once you’ve done your homework, help teach your kids about responsible technology use through open conversation. If you’ve made the effort to model healthy behavior and understand the technology (a.k.a steps 1-4), you’ll be able to have a more productive discussion. 

For more parenting tips, check out Charlotte Country Day School’s blog.

This content was created in partnership with Charlotte Country Day School.