One of the biggest challenges modern families report is managing screen time for their teens and the overuse of tech. It can be a huge barrier to connection for families and a major source of relational tension. Our parenting generation really cares about the quality of our children’s lives and nurturing a healthy dynamic at home on and off our screens. One way we can do that is to consistently talk about tech like we would any other aspect of family life. The integration of parental curiosity about tech and the normalization of its existence in our teens’ lives is a critical and necessary component to raising tech healthy families.
In my work with parents and caregivers, they want to talk to their teenagers about tech, but they’re not sure how or where to begin. It’s ok if it feels forced or awkward if this type of open-ended discussion is new for you and your family. These questions are meant to be the beginning of a conversation with an unknown outcome. They may lead to a topical discussion or a value-based one. They may lead to a discussion of issues happening in your home, at school, in peer groups,…
