Technology Resources

Tips for Parents

Technology has become so integrated into our daily lives that gaining a healthy balance can be difficult for adults and teens alike. Our kids and teens use technology so fluently, and the digital world changes so quickly, that helping them learn to manage their online lives can be very overwhelming. Healthychildren.org has some wonderful recommendations to help families set healthy boundaries for kids and teens.

The guideline that we have found most helpful is to treat the digital world like any other place your child or teen might visit. Know where they are going, know who they will be with, set clear limits and expectations, and talk about a plan incase they feel unsafe. Here are some examples of how this looks in the digital world:

Ask which websites your teen is visiting and the apps they are using. Common Sense Media rates movies, games, apps, websites, TV shows, books, and music by age level. It scores them based on educational value, positive messages, violence, sex, language, consumerism, and drugs. There is also a description of why it was given the rating and what parents and kids believe the rating should be.

Randomly check who your teen is talking with and what they are talking about. Middle school is a key time when we develop socially, this means times of trial and error. Knowing what your child is talking about and who they are talking with can open the door to some wonderful teaching moments.

Have frequent conversations about your expectations for them while they are online (i.e. not talking with people that they don't know in person, not sharing personal information, asking permission before they use a new app or website, etc.).

Set limits for when your teen can have access to phones and computers. A commonly recommended rule is to not let teens have phones, computers, or tablets in their rooms at night. There are many reasons for this recommendation. Research has shown that blue light has an impact on sleep patterns. Also, teens report feeling a need to constantly stay connected which is leading to many teens checking their phones in the middle of the night. One study of 2,750 11- to 18-yearolds found that 1 in 10 admitted checking their mobile phones for notifications at least 10 times a night.

Make a plan in case your teen finds themselves in a situation that makes them uncomfortable or unsafe. Often times, teens don't tell their parents about these situations because they are worried their device will simply be taken away, or they will just be in trouble, without the core issue being addressed. Instead, talk with your teen about the situation and brainstorm solutions together. They might still need to lose the privileged of their device for a while, but make sure the situation is also solved and your teen knows how to make better decisions going forward.

Resources

Common Sense Media has a variety of resources for parents including age recommendations for movies, games, apps, websites, TV shows, books, and music. They also have tips on parenting kids and teens in this digital world and a frequently asked question section to help parents stay current on the ever changing technology available.

Netsmartz is a website developed by the Center for Missing and Exploited Children. It has a variety of tips for parents to help guide kids to be safe while online including a search feature to help you decide what media to allow your kids to watch.

Study on the effects of night-time technology use on sleep patterns in adolescents.

BBC news article on the frequency and effects of checking phones in the middle of the night.

CNN Health article about the effects of technology on kids' sleep.

CBS News article on the effects of screen time on teens' sleep and mental health.

Washington Post article on teen technology addiction and how parents can help.