#67 How to Limit Screen Time Without Conflict - SmartSocial.com Podcast with Josh Ochs

Subscribe to our podcast on: iTunes – Google Play – Stitcher Radio – Spotify – Web Player

Hire Josh Ochs to speak at your organization.

Next Steps for Podcast Listeners:

--> Register for our new free social media safety webinar.

Join Parent University to get videos to watch with your kids so they can better understand WHY they need to be smart online.

Please share this episode with a friend and subscribe so we can help more parents. Thanks for all your support.

Read more on this blog post here: https://smartsocial.com/limit-screen-time/

Join our next webinar to learn the 30 worst apps your students should never use: https://smartsocial.com/social-media-webinar/

Join Parent University to get videos to watch with your kids so they can better understand WHY they need to be smart online.

View the top 70+ good and bad teen apps in our Popular App Guide page for Parents and Educators.

Learn more at https://smartsocial.com

We asked parents and educators what they were struggling with most when it comes to digital safety and an overwhelming number told us that it’s difficult to set screen time limits with their students. It’s important to help students build healthy screen time habits, but for many parents and educators that’s easier said than done.

So, we asked 5 experts to share their best tips parents can use to limit screen time. In this post, learn how you can create a daily routine for your family, how to encourage your students to earn screen time, how to model positive behaviors, how to take a social media break, and more.

1. Build a daily routine for your family

Elizabeth Malson, President of Amslee Institute

Parents have a lot to manage and it’s easy for kids to get several hours of screen time a day. Depending on the age of the child, it may be challenging to switch from screens to activities. Don’t underestimate the power of a bored child, without a screen children usually find something to do, especially if they have a bin of toys, a set of legos, books, bikes, and other age appropriate activities. It may take a few weeks for the child to realize they need to find something else to do with their time. Reducing screen time can help children develop life skills, like how to self-regulate their use of media and have more time to advance academically.

To develop personal responsibility, accountability, and the importance of helping family members, introduce children to household management chores and teach them cooking, how to fold laundry, and cleaning. If the children are too young, instead of screen time, have them work on puzzles, builds lego sets using an instruction book, read out loud, complete supplemental workbook pages in an education binder, spell words, make up a song, or turn on the music and dance. When dinner, dishes, and other chores are done, go on a neighborhood walk or bike ride each night. During this time, talk about space, the stars, the forest, and stop to look at bugs and collect rocks. Following these steps can help build learning into your daily routine.

2. Challenge your student to take a one-week vacation/detox from social media

Josh Ochs, Founder of SmartSocial

Teach students that social media can (and should) be utilized as a tool for good but that it is important to take breaks from time to time. Challenge your student to consider deleting their Instagram and/or Snapchat from their phone for one week (and take a social media detox/vacation). Before taking their “low tech vacation,” students can announce to their friends that they are focusing on school and that they can be reached by text directly. Then, help your student delete their Snapchat, Instagram, and any other time consuming apps from their phone for one week.

If your student doesn’t want to delete their apps, consider having them unfollow 100 people on Snapchat and/or Instagram. This will free them up to only follow people they are close with (and has been shown to reduce social media anxiety).