Wired In

From the tv to the ipad to the Wii and Xbox, who can gauge how much time kids spend in the presence of a screen these days? Throw texting in the mix and I find it nearly impossible. As you may suspect, it adds up quite quickly. Studies estimate that adolescents spend an average of 25 to 30 hours per week using computers and watching tv. An article in Good Housekeeping gave three smart ways to handle screen time within our digital age:

1. Don’t get caught up in the idea of limiting screen time to a certain number of hours (there goes my strategy!). Instead, consider establishing tech-free zones at the times and in the places you do control such as no cell phones or gaming devices in the car and no phones or ipads, etc during homework. Also, consider collecting all devices about an hour before bed to wind down and reconnect.

2. Think about your child’s behaviors, both online and offline. Does your child have close, supportive friendships both online and face-to-face? Is he meeting his obligations at school and at home? These are the benchmarks that matter more than the sheer quantity of time your child spends in the company of electronic media.

3. Give your kids guidance on digital life just as you would on any other fraught activity. Talk with them about moderation and about the fact that there are real people with real feelings on the other side of the screen.

Here is the full article from Good Housekeeping. Also, check out a WSJ recent piece on where tweens/teens are hanging out online.