13 Tips for Teaching Device Etiquette at Home

When it comes to digital citizenship, the best partnership is one that is built between schools and homes. As a united front, we can model and reinforce those good habits of mind that we want all kids to develop. Here at Adventure 2 Learning, we created a comprehensive solution to kickstart these valuable conversations in classrooms with our short-format videos and lesson plans for grades 3–8 and our robust Family Guide in the Digital Life program.

Our friends at Circle echoed our sentiments recently with their blog article, 13 Tips for Teaching Device Etiquette at Home. Their goal was to encourage more quality family time — without the distraction of devices. It’s all about balance!

Dr. David Greenfield, founder of The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction, shared his top tips for getting more face-to-face connection and better sleep. His tips emphasize the benefits of setting time limits and tech-free zones, something which Circle can help with too:

1. No screens (phones, tablets, laptops, TV, etc.) in bedrooms where children or teens sleep. When they go to bed the device should be elsewhere. The mere presence of a phone nearby will increase a stress hormone called cortisol. We will often check our phones to reduce our stress hormone level and this can become repetitive and compulsive.
2. Never use any screen 1 hour (60 minutes) before bed. Viewing screens changes circadian rhythms and sleep patterns and increases risk of inadequate sleep, which many teens already suffer from. There is some evidence that the blue screen light also changes arousal and other brain functions.
3. Consider installing software or apps that monitor how much screen or smartphone time your child or teen consumes. This takes you out of the equation and your child will learn to budget how much time they have and help develop more mindful use of his or her technology. It also decreases the potential for arguments and conflicts between the parent and the child.
4. Consider graying-out (setting the screen to black and white) the phone; this potentially makes the phone less appealing and stimulating.
5. Create a “Real-Time 100” of things that you or your child can do that don’t involve a screen. This can be a creative and fun task and reignite lost pleasures from real-time living skills.
6. Never have the phone out during meals or on the table in restaurants; the idea is to create healthy boundaries around our technology use. The smartphone is NOT an eating utensil!
7. The best way to help your child achieve mindful and sustainable technology use is to model the same behavior yourself; your child or teen is watching you and how you manage your tech use and they will be far more likely to adopt healthy technology use if they see you doing the same.

What more family-friendy tips? Check out the other recommendations from Dr. Greenfield in 13 Tips for Teaching Device Etiquette at Home. And don’t forget to dive into the FREE resources in our Digital Life program!