A recent survey reports that kids now spend more time listening to music, playing games and watching TV on their cell phones than talking on them. Even more surprising is that most of the students surveyed commented that their parents do not have rules about how much time they can spend watching TV, playing video games, or surfing the net.
Many teens can find the balance between connecting online and connecting in person; however, parents still should have rules around technology. Here are few suggestions for some basic rules.
* Turn off cell phones, TV, etc during meal times.
* Have all family members including adults turn off technology after a specified time each night.
* Set up a central charging station far from bedrooms at night to plug in all electronic devices preventing late night use.
* Insist your children have at least one extracurricular activity where mobile devices can’t be used.
Recently I had the opportunity to speak with an Associated Press reporter about this research. If you would like to learn more about this topic, check out the story.
