Back to School: Managing Screen Time

As summer comes to an end and families prepare for the start of another school year, it is important to reestablish screen time limits. Creating appropriate rules and expectations around screen time may seem like a daunting task, but it is critical in keeping children safe online.

Helpful tips for families:

Use a social media or technology contract. Have a conversation so your children can understand the rules and ask questions. (Templates are available on the Project Harmony website.)
Be clear with other parents. Make sure your screen time limits apply at other people’s houses.
Have regular, ongoing conversations about online safety. A one-time discussion is not enough. Talk to your children about what they like to do online and what apps their friends are using. This way, you can address issues as they arise rather than being surprised by them.
Monitor your child’s online footprint. Different age levels may require different levels of monitoring. This may include reviewing the apps they’ve downloaded, following your children on Instagram or doing spot checks of their devices.

“Safety is a conversation and a shared responsibility among all of us,” said Angela Roeber, Project Harmony chief of communications. “It is important that we talk with our children and help them understand how to make responsible and safe choices about what they post and share.”

Project Harmony (projectharmony.com) offers an online safety training that educates parents, caregivers and educators with the knowledge and resources needed to protect children from online dangers including predators, cyberbullies and threats related to gaming, social networking and mobile devices.