Useful Resources

Enforcing healthy limits on technology can be a big source of tension between parents and their children. Here is an excellent set of tips created by the organization Children and Screens, a great resource. The Child Mind Institute offers important considerations around setting limits on tech.

There is no one right way to managing tech use in your home because you know your family best. Using a guide like the AAP’s Family Media Plan can help you think through the pertinent issues and decide what’s right for your children.

Perhaps the biggest challenge with managing your child’s tech use is balancing independence and safety. Regular communication with your child about your expectations, especially when a new device or app is introduced, is key. Creating a contract, like examples through Commonsense Media or Understood, can help facilitate communication. Remember to revisit this regularly and update as needed! Other helpful guardrails include parental controls and routers, and Protect Young Eyes provides a nice overview of these options here. Given the potential harms associated with technology, particularly social media, active parent monitoring is critical.