Eps 175: A candid conversation with my kids about screen time

Screens

Why?

• It is coming up in the Joyful Courage Parents of Teens community, it is coming up in calls with clients, it is coming up in my own life and practice with my kids
• FOR CERTAIN: it is a big pain in the ass

Today I am going to share and inquiry from my own experience – not because I know the way, or I have it all figured out, but because I am IN IT with you.

• Remember last April when I had Dr. Delaney Runston on and we talked about her documentary, Screenagers? There are so many pearls of wisdom and research in my convo with her – be sure to listen or relisten - http://www.joyfulcourage.com/podcast/140
• I also had a powerful conversation with one of my colleagues, a positive discipline Lead trainer, about this during the teen summit, which is available to invest in through the end of this month at joyfulcourage.com/teensummit
• I spoke with Kim Muench about this back in episode 82 – Parenting in the Age of Smart phones…
• Plus, it has come up in loads of other conversations
• IT’S NOT GOING AWAY

Here are some of the pain points I am hearing from the community AND experiencing myself:

• Limits and boundaries
• How much to monitor
• Broken agreements
• The arguing
• The internet is forever
• How will they develop real relationship skills when everything is over text/IM/Snaps
• Online/SM bullying
• Sexting/nudes
• How much time is too much time to be on their phones
• How to be the lone parents who waits to get their child a phone
• How to support kids with friends when they don’t have SM/phones
• Restricting what they do/see on their devices
• Begin real and honest about our OWN (parents) phone use
• Using devices as avoidance/escape

Let’s check in with the kids:

• How did you feel about making agreements about screens?
• What is your experience with social media?
• What do you not like about the phone and SM? What kinds of things do you see happening?
• Where do you feel like it gets in the way of life? Or do you?
• What do you like about it?
• How do you feel about me when I am on your case about your phone use?
• What do you see me modeling with my phone use?
• You have some restrictions on your phone – is that helpful?

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