Sometimes families feel pressure and concern about tech use as the summer months approach. The dream we have of lazy, slow days morph into a reality of tension and struggle over free time and screen time. This first article in a three-part series on summer screens is designed to get us thinking about summer, family, and tech ahead of school break. A change of season is a great opportunity to pause, reflect and plan. We don’t need to have all of the answers today, but consider ways we can be proactive instead of reactive this summer.
Find a little space in your life to sit down by yourself or talk to a partner or your childcare provider—even with your child—using these prompts as a focus. Don’t worry about an outcome, instead just see what happens! Wishing you the best as we begin this journey together and look ahead to summer prepared to love our screens and our boundaries.
Part 1 — Prompts to consider for your Summer iRules:
- A Year in Review: Reflect back on the school year. What worked and what didn’t? What were the tech flash points between you and your children? What part of your family tech use went well and where do you need to improve?
- Name Your Stress: What worries you the most? What (device, app, social network, game, behavior, circumstance) is on your mind and why? Name it so we can tame it.
- Tech Tendencies: Consider each child and think about the support and boundaries they may need with summer just ahead. Differentiate their needs to set each child up for tech success.
- Make a Match: What does your summer schedule look like? Are you really booked or wide open? Making iRules that match your family’s schedule and summer activities is important. Considering your work schedule, family plans, vacation time, camps, and activities is important to a realistic approach for tech planning.
Summer Goals: What do you want from summer break? How does tech fit into your family plan? Draw, list or write the perfect summer day. How does tech show up?
Remember, Part 1 is just to get us reflecting, thinking and planning. We don’t have to make any changes today—think of it as an exercise. Putting in this time is a critical component to building a tech healthy foundation.