How to Reduce Kids’ Screen Time This Summer (Without Playing Technology Cop)
When my first baby was placed in my arms, there were many roles as a mother I knew I would undertake: a nurse, maid, cook, and much more. However, there is one role I now play every single day I never anticipated:
Technology Cop.
My husband and I are a partner police team constantly patrolling our home for violations of technology use.
Public enemy number one between our children and expanding their minds with imaginative play is technology. The glowing screens of the television, video games, iPads and phones are irresistible to children and out to rot their little brains.
This fact is ironic since we, the parents, allow these devices into our lives. But, our relationship with technology has an #itscomplicated status.
While our family is far from perfect, there are a few tools that have helped us place boundaries around technology without being the bad cop.
Lay the ground rules
Children thrive within structure. They have completed a school year in which every minute of every day was scheduled. They knew the rules for each environment. They knew to raise their hands to speak in class and to take turns on the monkey bars.
When they’re home for the summer, it’s a different story. There is no schedule and no structure. They naturally want to do what is the most fun – play on their devices. No rules, schedules, routines or boundaries have been put into place to make them think otherwise.
I’m not saying you have to schedule every minute of every day for them, but it helps to lay some ground rules for how they are to spend their days and how technology use fits in to that schedule.
The Checklist
How you structure their days and the rules that apply will be different depending on their age. I have three elementary-aged kids. This summer we decided to help them, help us by giving them a checklist.
The checklist looks like this:
Summer Rules
First:
__ Brush your teeth
__ Brush your hair
__ Get dressed
__ Eat breakfast
Then:
__ 20 Minutes of Reading
__ 20 Minutes of Writing/Drawing/Coloring
__ Make/Build Something Creative
__ 20 Minutes of Playing Outside
__ Clean Up Your Bedroom/Play Area
You may now use electronics!
Feel free to steal this list and edit to make sense for your family. You can also tailor the items for each kid individually if necessary.
I thought we would get some attitude or push back from our kids, but for the most part they’ve embraced the rules. They treat this checklist as the schedule for the morning. Then, we try to do an outing in the afternoon.
For working parents, this is an effective tool for babysitters as well. My mother-in-law lives with us and handles childcare during the days so I can work. The checklist is a great way for all of us to stay on the same page (literally!) for what’s expected from our children.
Setting Time Limits
Setting a time limit is often the most challenging part of regulating technology use. We always feel like the bad cop! We used to set timers or just tell the kids it was time to put them down. No one is ever happy when told they need to put their device down!
Thankfully, we can make technology be the bad guy. We use the OurPact app to limit the amount of time and the range of hours in which they can use the iPad.
We allot them an hour per day. They go into the OurPact app on the iPad to start the timer and when their time’s up, the iPad locks down and the apps disappear. Sometimes they are upset when the timer shuts down a game were about to win, but that opens up a great conversation about time management.
There are also timer devices for different video game systems and even televisions. I’d recommend Googling the specific devices you own to see what’s available.
Let Go of the Guilt
Finally, let go of the guilt. No matter what system you create, it won’t be perfect. There’ll be times when the sitter cancels and they have to sit in front of the TV for you to get some work done, or it rains for a week straight. It happens!
Nothing negates the fact that you’re creating a healthy environment for them to thrive. You are a good parent. Period.
Here’s to permanently turning in your Technology Cop badge and having a great summer!
Megan Ericson is a mom of three kids who spends the hours while her kids are at school furiously typing away at her keyboard. She writes blog posts for companies, guest posts, records podcast episodes, and manages all the social media things. And, she most recently became an Enneagram coach. Find more great stuff from Megan at meganericson.com.
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