Settle with Screen Time
Remember Alan Jackson’s song “Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?” a tribute to 9/11? We now need a song titled “Where Were You When the World Turned Upside Down?” This will be a time that undoubtedly will go down in the history books. Books – something that’s probable to be a thing of the past. Why have a book when you can read and watch “history” on a screen? Screen, screen, screen… ugh.
Anxiety about whether you or your loved one is going to catch this wretched virus is over the roof. The idea that our whole world is pretty much shut down is just crazy. The worry about livelihood, the economy, the “new norm”… and then there’s screen time.
It’s the Devil
Too much screen time has been proven to cause all kinds of issues with adolescents – interruption of sleep, obesity, behavior, and more. Time spent in front of a screen for children has increased 500 percent since the COVID outbreak. In COVID time – it’s how our teachers connect with their students, how many of our students learn and how our students connect with each other. Those of you who have found comfort with your child(ren)’s screen time in these past weeks – I commend you. The issue lingers on the minds of many. It’s just one more item on the long list of reasons for insomnia.
My 4th grade son plays Fortnite in phases. When “the shutdown” began, he returned to the game. I remember making my normal route to his room when I knew it was time to stop playing for the day. I would turn the corner and hear him belly laughing with his classmates and teammates as they were all battling it out together. Not knowing when he would see his friends, how could I stop his joy? Texting, facetime, casual ZOOMs, video games – they’re all helping to fill the void of togetherness. And yet… the inner struggle of right vs wrong is real.
Ease Up
As part of the Southern Association of Independent Schools(SAIS), O’Neal parents were among the 1200+ participants who listened to a very helpful session led by psychologists Dr. Rob Evans and Dr. Michael Thompson to address concerns with distance learning and COVID-19. Here are some takeaways from the topic of screen time:
- This is emergency distance learning. No parents of children attending school signed up to homeschool their children. “This is a grand experiment.”
- Those who have strict standards on screen time will find it hard to continue that pattern as the learning needs alone will make it impossible.
- Ease up a bit. This is how adolescents relax. It is how they relate, as students are also finding their own therapy.
- Should you require that your child finish their schooling before venturing into “playtime” screen time? – Certainly.
Find Solace
If it’s a sunny, warm day, the last thing I want is for my child to be huddled up in his room looking at a screen. Every household has a different scenario. The act of getting your student away from the device typically requires your time, your effort. There are instances when that just can’t be. Your daily energy is valuable. Prioritize your actions in ways that will reap the most benefit with the least amount of stress. You love your child. You are their caretaker – now more than ever. Make peace with this “grand experiment”. Filter the issues and address what is most important. Focus more on self-care and time together.
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