are you techno-savvy?

          In this age of social media and much too much screen time, did you know that increased screen time:

1. Delays social skill development in children, delays speech development, and creates deficiencies in self-help skills and resilience?
2. Increases social isolation and emotional desensitization?
3. Increases the prevalence of cyberbullying and sexting?
4. Undermines the attachment bonding process for you with your kids?

         Being aware of these researched facts will help you become more techno-savvy and make effort to counter such influences on your children. Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I admit I’m not as techno-savvy as I want to be. If I’m stuck on an app on my computer, I call in my 8 year old granddaughter to help me get going. I asked my 17 year old grand child recently what I could do to get more likes on my facebook page and she came up with a bunch of suggestions. As parents of the smart phone generation, we all can become more techno-savvy and improve the quality of time we have together.
          More statistics:

1. By the age of 7, many children in the US or UK will have spent one full year of 24-hr days watching screen media.
2. The average American child aged 8-18 spends more than 7 hrs/day looking at video games, computers, cell phones or TV, usually multi-tasking.
3. TV viewing time for children under 3 is linked to delayed language acquisition.
4. For older children and teens, excessive screen time is linked to increased psychological difficulties, including hyperactivity, emotional and conduct problems, and difficulties with peers.
5. Over 20% of high schoolers have participated in sexting and 25% have forwarded sexting images.
6. 390,000 injuries occur each year from car accidents where there was texting while driving, 25% of all accidents, and leading to 9 fatalities every day.

      So, what can we do? We can be actively involved in our children’s lives, avoid electronic babysitting, and set healthy boundaries for them:

1. Decide, ahead of being asked, what types of games you will allow your child to play on-line, both at home and with his friends.
2. Set limits on amount of time and location of gaming. Keep it public.
3. Active listen your child’s moods, words, and actions that show distress, both generally and specifically with gaming time and social media.
4. Create electronics-free zones in your home, such as during family meal times and not in bedrooms. I know one family that has a cell phone basket and everyone drops their cell phone in the basket before going to their bedroom.
5. Use only hands-free phones while driving and never text and drive.
6. Limit times and locations where family members can check their emails or go on social media daily.
7. Limit social media time to 1 hr/day and only after homework is done.
8. Have a game night or family outing at least once/week.
9. Spend 1:1 time with each of your children on a weekly basis.

       Becoming more techno-savvy and improving emotional intimacy and family relations by having more time together can lead to moderate technology time becoming a blessing, rather than a curse in your home.

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