Digital Wellbeing and Managing Screentime - Stay Safe Partnership

Outcomes

Promoting positive digital wellbeing and managing screentime.

Service Description

Technology is a fundamental part of our lives and has many positive aspects, however, too much screentime can have a negative impact. Here is some advice on how to promote healthier screentime habits for younger family members.

  1. Use device and app settings to monitor screentime and limit content: On most phones and tablets, you can see how much time you have spent on your device each day, as well as how much time you have spent on each app. Screentime restrictions can be set up by making use of parental controls such as Apple’s Screen Time function and Google’s Family Link, for example. There are also helpful screentime controls on some apps, including TikTok. In these settings, you can often set reminders to take screen breaks and set daily time limits for using apps. Access to harmful content can also be restricted through parental control settings.
  2. Have conversations: Encourage your children to speak with you about what they access and the things they enjoy doing on their devices. Reassure them that you are there to help if they are unsure, or if anything makes them feel uncomfortable or distressed.
  3. Encourage sensible sharing: Raise awareness of how some individuals might use information people share online in malicious ways. Photos and communications can be shared and manipulated. Promote use of private accounts and limiting posts to only be viewable by people we have met and trust. Remind your child to be respectful when communicating with others online.
  4. Take screen breaks: Remind young people of the importance of taking regular breaks from screens, e.g. every 20 – 30 minutes taking time to stretch or chat to someone nearby. Put devices down an hour or two before bedtime to facilitate better quality sleep. Blue light omitted by screens can increase alertness and have negative effects, e.g. by disrupting the sleep cycle and causing eyestrain.
  5. Get plenty of sleep: Set up a sleep mode. Use device settings to limit notifications and adjust display settings (including screen brightness) when it is near bedtime. Leave phones outside of the bedroom at night to avoid distractions. Good quality sleep is very important.
  6. Set household rules: Set rules within the household about when and where is appropriate to use devices, e.g. no tech in bedrooms / at mealtimes, only watch YouTube in shared areas of the house (so adults are aware what their child is accessing) etc.  Model healthy habits and set a positive example, as children often mirror the behaviour they see from their adults.
  7. Teach your child online safety: Ensure your child is aware of how to use the safety features on their games and apps and advise them on how to deal with challenging behaviours from others. Remind your child that it is okay to not respond to people they do not know or anyone being unkind, ensure they know how to report and block and encourage them to seek support from a trusted adult when needed.

Further information about managing screentime can be found via the following links: