Holiday Technology Balance
The holiday seasons is upon us with an opportunity for an abundance of family time. Trying to maintain a healthy holiday balance of family activities and tech time can be a challenge, yet very important. For those of you who are unsure where to start, here are some tips to keep your children balanced, connected and feeling fun about the holidays:
1. Lead by example:
Wherever possible, parents should model the behaviours they expect to see from their children. Kids feel that same niggling compulsion to check their phones that we do, so it could be a rewarding family experience to do a digital detox together. If you have something important to do, such as making a work call or coordinating plans, then consider announcing that. Try not to check your email in front of your kids. Demonstrating that you’re not just using your phone for entertainment helps to model healthy device use and an awareness of your own habits.
2. Establish mutual parameters:
Try to establish a set of rules that the family can agree on. These can vary depending on your child’s age, and what the family is doing. One standard rule is “no phones out during family meals”. Another could be that games are only for when you’re in the car. Or, if you’re away on a holiday, then maybe implement a rule whereby phones can only be used as a camera during family outings, and children have to wait until you are back at the hotel to text or go on social media (tip: put their phone on flight-mode or turn off their data). When you are modeling a stricter limit to tech time, your children will follow.
3. Think of fun activities:
We all know that the holidays can be a hectic time of year. Between wrapping gifts, running last-minute errands, and preparing ingredients for a family feast, it can be hard to find time to entertain over-excited children. It’s tempting to simply give them your iPad or let them use their gaming console. But if you’re committed to avoiding too much screen time this holiday time, then try to proactively think of activities for the kids to do while you’re busy. Spending time outdoors is an exciting opportunity in any climate. When spending time indoors, set up an arts and crafts area and encourage them to make gift wrapping paper, let them write personalised messages in the family greeting cards, or ask them to help you in the kitchen with some baking. When the children are busy having fun and connecting with others through a variety of activities, both indoors and outdoors, they don’t notice that they are missing their devices.
4. Create an incentive:
Another way to get children to be mindful of the media they’re consuming is to teach them about earning their online leisure time. Try to come up with a rewards system that incentivizes good behaviour. For example, completing a certain chore earns a coupon that’s worth 15 minutes of screen time, and they can choose when to cash that coupon in. Talk it through with your child to establish a system that’s fair (i.e. a maximum of 4 coupons can be redeemed at one time, and coupons can only be cashed in within predetermined times).
Avoiding too much screen time over the holiday period can be a challenge, especially when so many aspects of modern life tend to rely on modern technologies. However, by taking the time to think of some fun, festive activities and fair rules for the entire family, finding a balance could be easier than you think and everyone benefits from it too!
For more information on developing positive technological habits, connect onto the Digital Citizenship Facebook Page to follow weekly posts and insights in the world today.
The ES Counseling Team
The holiday seasons is upon us with an opportunity for an abundance of family time. Trying to maintain a healthy holiday balance of family activities and tech time can be a challenge, yet very important. For those of you who are unsure where to start, here are some tips to keep your children balanced, connected and feeling fun about the holidays:
1. Lead by example:
Wherever possible, parents should model the behaviours they expect to see from their children. Kids feel that same niggling compulsion to check their phones that we do, so it could be a rewarding family experience to do a digital detox together. If you have something important to do, such as making a work call or coordinating plans, then consider announcing that. Try not to check your email in front of your kids. Demonstrating that you’re not just using your phone for entertainment helps to model healthy device use and an awareness of your own habits.
2. Establish mutual parameters:
Try to establish a set of rules that the family can agree on. These can vary depending on your child’s age, and what the family is doing. One standard rule is “no phones out during family meals”. Another could be that games are only for when you’re in the car. Or, if you’re away on a holiday, then maybe implement a rule whereby phones can only be used as a camera during family outings, and children have to wait until you are back at the hotel to text or go on social media (tip: put their phone on flight-mode or turn off their data). When you are modeling a stricter limit to tech time, your children will follow.
3. Think of fun activities:
We all know that the holidays can be a hectic time of year. Between wrapping gifts, running last-minute errands, and preparing ingredients for a family feast, it can be hard to find time to entertain over-excited children. It’s tempting to simply give them your iPad or let them use their gaming console. But if you’re committed to avoiding too much screen time this holiday time, then try to proactively think of activities for the kids to do while you’re busy. Spending time outdoors is an exciting opportunity in any climate. When spending time indoors, set up an arts and crafts area and encourage them to make gift wrapping paper, let them write personalised messages in the family greeting cards, or ask them to help you in the kitchen with some baking. When the children are busy having fun and connecting with others through a variety of activities, both indoors and outdoors, they don’t notice that they are missing their devices.
4. Create an incentive:
Another way to get children to be mindful of the media they’re consuming is to teach them about earning their online leisure time. Try to come up with a rewards system that incentivizes good behaviour. For example, completing a certain chore earns a coupon that’s worth 15 minutes of screen time, and they can choose when to cash that coupon in. Talk it through with your child to establish a system that’s fair (i.e. a maximum of 4 coupons can be redeemed at one time, and coupons can only be cashed in within predetermined times).
Avoiding too much screen time over the holiday period can be a challenge, especially when so many aspects of modern life tend to rely on modern technologies. However, by taking the time to think of some fun, festive activities and fair rules for the entire family, finding a balance could be easier than you think and everyone benefits from it too!
For more information on developing positive technological habits, connect onto the Digital Citizenship Facebook Page to follow weekly posts and insights in the world today.
The ES Counseling Team