Has your child been asking you for a phone for years, and you've finally decided to take the plunge and offer him/her a smartphone for Christmas? Then not so fast! If you don't want to regret this decision, here's our best advice to make sure everything goes smoothly!
Managing screen time in family life is a huge dilemma in 2023. With all the recent developments, it's not easy to find the right balance with screens. But don't worry, we have solutions. In this article, we will explore strategies for effectively regulating screen time in the family. The aim is to help create a better balance with screens and avoid parental control as much as possible.
The Importance of Common Rules
Adopt Common Rules for the Family: Setting common rules is the foundation of effective screen time management. It's essential to ensure that these rules align with the needs and preferences of each family member and are comprehensible to all.
📝 The Family Digital Agreement
To address the issue of screen time within the family, it's crucial to adopt a shared set of rules and guidelines that accommodate the needs and concerns of every family member. Establishing a family digital agreement is an effective way to formalize these rules and expectations. You can create your family digital charter using Faminum, a platform designed for this very purpose. Creating a Family Digital Agreement with rules for children provides them with clear guidelines. It's much easier to adhere to the rules when they have been agreed upon by everyone and are clearly outlined.
🪞 Lead By Example: Become Their Role Model
Children often look to adults as role models. Ideally, parents should adhere to the family digital agreement with the same commitment they expect from their children. This shared commitment can be further enhanced by using apps such as Jomo, with the Squads to monitor and regulate screen time collectively. Squads facilitate a non-invasive approach, focusing on shared time rather than monitoring specific apps. Encouraging friendly competition within the family can make adhering to screen time limits more enjoyable and reduce potential conflicts with children.
"Squads doesn't involve sharing private apps, it promotes collective responsibility."
⚖️ Striking a Balance: Avoiding Extremes
Striking the right balance between being too strict and too permissive is essential. Vanessa Lalo, a clinical psychologist and expert on digital usage, explains that: "The problem with setting rules that are too rigid is that they can sometimes seem totally unjustified to children". To do so, try to always take these two points into consideration:
Individual Needs: Each family member may have different requirements and interests related to screen time. Define rules to accommodate these differences while maintaining fairness.
Feedback Loop: Regularly revisit and adjust the rules as necessary based on family discussions and feedback. Flexibility is key to ensuring that rules remain relevant and effective
👏 Encourage Responsible Digital Behaviour by Showing Interest
Just as with any hobby or interest, it's important to take an active interest in each family member's digital activities. Encouraging open discussions about online activities can foster a sense of responsibility and engagement, instead of seeing the phone as a nuisance. By showing interest in their online activities, you create an environment where children feel encouraged to make responsible choices.
🌿 Shared Digital Detoxes
It's important for families to embrace regular breaks from screens. These "digital detoxes" apply to every family member, promoting social bonding and overall well-being. Here are some tips you can try:
Family Activities: Discover activities that the family can enjoy together — preferably without screens. It can be board games, outdoor sports, or creative projects.
Scheduled Recurring Breaks: Incorporate scheduled screen-free breaks into daily routines. For example, designate certain hours in the evening as "No-Phone-Hours," when the entire family puts away screens and engages in other activities or maybe an entire day in your week, for example Sundays.
Watch out for cyber-bullying
Without getting paranoid, beware of cyber-bullying. Whether you suspect your child is being harassed or is a stalker, you need to take action! Here's what to do if you suspect or report harassment, to help you take action.
🔒 Go Further and Learn You Child to Self-Manage
Sometimes, we all need some extra assistance. Consider trying Jomo with your child to help them find the perfect rules for their phone. Traditional parental controls can be invasive, and in that regard, Jomo is likely the best companion. It's not just about restrictions; it's about establishing healthier boundaries and promoting self-management. Give Jomo a try, available for free on the App Store.
And if you want to monitor screen time from a distance, create a Squad—the only enjoyable way to challenge yourself and your family to spend less and less time on your phone!
Don’t worry about finding the right balance between screen time and productivity. This is a challenge for many families.
🔗 Faminum ; Internet Matters ; Bien Vivre le Digital
✋ Illustrations by Jomo ; Photography Unsplash
Made with love in Brittany