Screen Recommendations
Many families wrestle with the amount of time kids should spend in front of screens. While Smart Families recommends delaying smartphones until high school, we are aware that other screens exist at home (and in classrooms). We encourage families to think beyond the quantity to consider the quality of screen use. Review the recommendations below and prioritize your values to help guide how you utilize screens. These can be helpful for the whole family!
Smart Families Screen Recommendations
What type of content is being utilized?
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Is this educational or recreational? Active or passive?
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Is this age-appropriate? Is it geared towards kids, family, or adults?
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How will this content improve me or my life? Am I building a skill? Creating something?
Who is participating?
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Is this a family activity? Kids together? Solo time?
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Am I interacting with anyone? Do I know these people off-line?
How am I or how is my child?
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How much time have I already spent on a screen today? Have I had any breaks?
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Am I using a screen to self-soothe or as a coping mechanism?
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How do I feel while using the screen? Am I happy, frustrated, sad, excited, etc.?
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How do I feel after using the screen? Am I happy, frustrated, sad, excited, etc.?
Does this support my family and our values?
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How does this help me connect with my family or other people I care about?
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What other activities have we already done or could we do instead?
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What skills and habits is this screen time building?
Recommendations For Parents
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Preview programs, games, and apps beforehand
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Supervise and ideally co-view when your child is engaging with screens
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Have conversations with your child about what you see, hear, and feel while using screens and after
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Balance screen time with other activities
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Turn off screens at night and keep screens out of bedrooms
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Talk to your kids about how to build a healthy brain
Warning Signs
Sleep problems
Difficulty falling asleep, disrupted sleep cycles, or fatigue due to screen exposure, especially before bed.
Lower grades
Lack of focus on homework or missing assignments due to screen distractions.
Less outdoor activities
Spending less time outside due to technology use and showing less interest in being outside.
Weight problems
Reduced physical activity can contribute to unhealthy weight gain or loss.
Mood problems
Increased frustration, anger, or emotional instability, especially when screen time is restricted.
Vision problems
Frequent rubbing of eyes, squinting, or reporting blurry vision may indicate digital eye strain.
Developmental delay
Delayed language or social skills, especially in younger children who spend more time with screens than interacting with others.
Poor posture
Slouching or neck pain ("tech neck") from prolonged device use.