Building Resilience: Screen Time Tips

Screen Time Tips

Abandon your guilt at the door - parenting and working from home in the time of COVID-19 is stressful enough without adding on the screen time guilt! Screen time will likely increase now that children are home all day. The key to media use is maintaining a balance. In addition to watching their favorite shows or movies, make sure that children are also doing things they need to do to stay healthy, such as eating, sleeping well, going outside, completing schoolwork. Keep kids safe from inappropriate content by turning parental controls on for all electronic devices. Create a media use plan as a family so that everybody knows the rules around screen time, appropriate media content, and other related matters. Follow this linkfor more help on how to make your family’s media use plan through the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Also remember that social distancing does not have to mean social isolation! Encouraging your children to maintain social connectivity using technology for Facetime or Skype or other video conferencing options with loved ones and friends to help them maintain a sense of community. It can also ease worries they may have about being separated from loved ones they may be used to seeing regularly, such as grandparents. Also, if you work during the day, they can check in with you while you are away.

 

Note: Mental health is always important, but during times of crisis it is paramount. The following guidelines are designed to support you in finding ways to cope, understanding how to practice self-care, and nurturing your connection with your child. Building Resilience: Parenting During a Pandemic is a joint effort between Louisiana Children's Museum and Tulane Institute of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health.

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