That has changed, and now parents are supposed to check that kidshave a healthy relationship with their devices.
Where do you begin?
Here are a few ways to approach the task.
I see a huge difference between my seven-year-old watching videos versusbuilding things in Minecraft.
Instead, you could use a tool likeCircletoblock access to certain websites at certain times.
And you could follow theAmerican Academy of Pediatrics guideline tokeep mealtimes and bedtime tech-free.
But just like us, they can gravitate to electronics because those devices are more convenient to use.
Are the dress-up clothes and the legos and the musical instruments as accessible as the screens?
Heitner suggests asking yourself as you look around your childs environment.
Thats the same idea here.
Im definitely guilty of this, especially if Im on deadline.
A great parenting tactic is to be honest with our kids when were busy, she says.
But I also think we shouldnt have a default be that were always connected and never unplugged.
The biggest impact of the AAPs guidelines, Heitner says (and I agree!)
And we dont need to look down on families who give their kids more screen time than we do.
Its harder to talk to other parents because were so busy judging them, she observes.
Or howtheydecided whether their middle schooler was ready for their own phone.
Illustration by Sam Woolley.Photos byRoy LuckandJosh Engroff.
