Tips to Help Your Teen Manage Summer Screen Time

Posted by Anis Alibhai on July 17, 2023

As technology becomes increasingly integrated into our daily lives, managing screen time and technology use has become a critical topic for parents and adolescents. We are all trying to find a healthy balance of our daily dose of tech usage. According to a survey conducted by Common Sense Media, teens spend an average of 8 hours and 39 minutes per day on screens, not including time for school or homework. Technology can be a valuable tool for communication, education, and entertainment, as well as a source of comfort for many of us. However, many teens struggle to set limits with their screen use. Managing screen time is especially challenging for adolescents who experience depression and anxiety. Excessive screen time can exacerbate sleep problems, symptoms of low mood and feelings of isolation, symptoms that they may already be experiencing.

Summer time tends to bring more time for relaxation and more time for screens. Here are 5 tips for supporting healthy screen time and technology use with teens this summer:

1. Set Realistic Goals

It’s important for adolescents to set realistic goals when it comes to managing screen time. Ideally, this is an evolving conversation with your teen based on their interests, stage of development, and extra-curricular, social, and physical activities. Factors that play into screen time goal setting include a teen’s lifestyle and habits, as well as their competence and independent ability to manage screen use. For younger teens or teens who struggle with managing their screen time, parents may be required to gradually reduce screen time instead of quitting cold turkey, or perhaps limiting screen time to a certain number of hours per day. The key is to find a balance that works for you and your teen.

2. Create a Daily Schedule

Creating a daily schedule can help adolescents manage their screen time and establish healthy habits. This may include scheduling time for sleep, physical activity, self-care, and social interaction, as well as setting aside time for screens. Reflecting on what self-care looks like for adolescents is important – activities might include reading, writing, or engaging in other creative activities, listening to music, hiking, hanging out with friends, etc. Finding alternative activities to screen time can be an effective way for adolescents to reduce their use and improve their mental health. Teens need to actually experience activities to feel and understand the benefits of them.

3. Limit Exposure to Negative Content

Exposure to negative content on screens can be particularly harmful for adolescents. The American Psychological Association recommends minimizing exposure to negative content that promotes prejudice, hate or cyberbullying – especially based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or disability status. We also know that social media content that encourages social comparison, particularly around beauty or appearance related content is detrimental to teens, particularly to young women. Talking to your kids about the impact of these images and videos is important. Often teens are not aware of how these negative images are influencing their beliefs about self and others. The sheer volume and accessibility of negative messaging, including racist, sexist, and homophobic content, is overwhelming. However, teens can learn to protect their mental health by developing greater awareness and by talking about their viewed content with friends and family. In this way, technology use becomes a vehicle for education and discussion, rather than harm.

4. Seek Support

Finally, it’s important for parents of adolescents to seek support when teens are unable to manage their screen time. If your teen is always on their phone, is unable to set limits, or you’ve noticed that their screen use has increased or is getting in the way of their life responsibilities and activities, it is time to seek help. Seeking professional support or therapy might be a first step to establishing some healthier habits for your teen.

Managing screen time and technology is challenging year-round, and it can be particularly difficult during the summer when adolescents may have more free time and fewer structured activities. As parents, aim to get ahead of the game and discuss summer plans with your teen prior to school wrapping up. Discuss reasonable limits for summer days, knowing that flexibility for both parents and teens will be required.

With the right tools and strategies, managing screen time can become a positive and empowering experience for adolescents and parents. By setting goals, creating a daily schedule, limiting exposure to negative content, and seeking support, adolescents can manage their screen time and their wellbeing during the summer months and beyond.