In the old days, for example the summer of 2018, we would approach the end of school and the summer holiday as a time to hit the road, travel to the cottage, visit friends and relatives in far-flung locations, accompany our kids to baseball tournaments and similar activities.

Now, we’re looking at staycations and the most exciting travel we might enjoy is from the front door to the backyard!

I might be exaggerating to make a point but this July and August pose a challenge for all of us and one of those challenges revolves around managing how much time our kids spend online and managing their screen time.

I thought it might be helpful to share a few resources and tips so that your summer doesn’t devolve into one of virtual reality.

We devote much time and effort to wellness. We practice mindful meditation, we get the kids outdoors as much as possible, we devote time to deep listening and meeting the kids where they are in their developmental stages. Those are all things we can continue whether school is in or out.

Tip One: Create a developmental checklist

Before the coronavirus crisis, the checklist might have included things like spending time with friends and engaging in extracurricular activities. Now, the specifics will look different, but you can still use the same idea to assess whether your child is spending too much time on screens. Ask yourself:

• Is my child sleeping enough and eating a somewhat balanced diet?

• Are they getting some form of exercise every day?

• Are they spending some quality time with family?

• Do they use some screen time to keep in touch with friends?

• Are they invested in school and keeping up with homework?

If you can answer yes to most of those questions, then it’s probably not a huge deal if your child watches an extra episode (or three or five) of their favourite show.

Tip Two: Emphasize connection and creativity

Without a lot of other options, you might not be able to cut down on your child’s screen time overall, but you can help them make the most of the time they do spend with their devices. Quality matters just as much as quantity, and there are lots of ways that screen time can enrich kids’ (and adults’!) lives during this tough time.

• Connect with family - Setting your children up to chat with relatives can also give you a chance to relax or get other things done, which can benefit the whole family.

• Stay social - Connecting with friends virtually isn’t a perfect substitute for the real thing, but it’s still valuable. Playing games online, watching a movie while texting with a group, or even just having lunch with classmates over Zoom are all ways that kids can feel less isolated and more connected to their peers.

• Pursue hobbies and build skills - There are lots of kid-friendly activities online that can keep them active offline. This can be a good time for kids to dig deeper into their interests and build self-esteem, without the pressure of having to achieve anything in particular.*

Tip Three: The kids (and you) will be alright

Both adults and children are experiencing an increase in screen time but there is very little evidence directly connecting screen time to harm in kids. The bigger problem lies in screens replacing positive activities like exercise, socializing, and sleep. Here are two simple things to keep in mind.

One media-free meal per day - Try to have at least one meal per day without screens. Conversations during mealtime can help to shape a child’s social-emotional health and ease stress for the whole family.

Two screen-free hours before bed - Setting screens aside for two hours before bedtime makes it easier to fall asleep and wake up on time.**

Finally, it’s important that you cut yourself some slack. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and we’re going to be alright. Your kids are learning to be good people and that will always keep them in a healthy place. So, enjoy, relax and practice some of these habits and have a great summer.

Resources:

*https://childmind.org/article/screen-time-during-the-coronavirus-crisis/

*https://www.harvardpilgrim.org/hapiguide/how-to-handle-screen-time-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/