Electronic devices can be both a blessing and a curse when it comes to children’s usage of them, but for better or for worse they are an unavoidable presence in modern life. To ensure that kids are using their devices in ways that will not cause any harm, parents can take steps to manage this usage. Some examples of rules or restrictions that parents can try out include forbidding phone use in certain areas, like in the car; insisting that kids not watch long running videos on small devices; forbidding phone use during certain times or occasions, like shortly before a child’s bedtime or during family meals; and taking the phone away as a consequence for poor school performance, among others.

Key Takeaways:

• One parent found that a newly licensed offspring did not know how to pump gas.
• While wryly calling it a parental fail, the parent attributed it to the child’absorption in her device, which kept her from watching out the window.
• The parent remembered a simpler time, when long drives and back seats meant endless ” are we there yets?’ and lots of poking.

“We recognize that they are learning to interact in the new digital world. BUT, as parents, we are committed to teaching those important lessons that will help our kids be successful humans in the REAL world, too.”

Read more: https://www.askdrsears.com/topics/parenting/8-ways-to-manage-screen-time-kids-teens