Positive Parenting Strategies for Minimizing Tech Use

[Dr. Lisa Damour] The other way I would think about it is not so much being against technology, that just doesn’t work, but being for other things. Keeping kids busy. I’m a big fan of kids being busy. Not too busy, but busy is good, and when they’re busy they just have less time online and that’s a good thing. What might they be busy with? Let’s start here. In terms of the things I would have every family be for, sleep number one. And just to recap, this is critically important. Elementary school students need 11 hours of sleep. Middle schoolers need 10 hours of sleep. High schoolers need 9 hours of sleep. So that’s a lot of time. Being physically active, studying without the interruption of digital technology that is not part of their work. Helping out around the house, helping out around the community, and then having interactions that do not involve technology, do not involve, you know, they’re face to face, they’re with the people you’re with. Fill the time of young people with these things and narrow the time they can spend in digital interactions.