How many are your works, LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number— living things both large and small.
Psalm 104:24-25
Everything that applies to our use time, applies doubly to our children, because they are in the process of learning how to use their time. If you haven’t read it already then, check out Limiting Online Time.
There are additional considerations for our children.
- Phones and other devices do not go to bedrooms or other unsupervised spaces.
- Don’t leave your child in a situation that is vulnerable. We don’t leave our children alone in places where they could be endangered, and this is the same principle.
- Set off times when they should be in their bedrooms sleeping and/or could be especially vulnerable because of tiredness or loneliness. When your child is tired, upset, lonely, feeling down, it is not a good time for them (or you) to be on the internet. These types of situations can become triggers that will cause them to use the internet to cross moral lines that they would not normally cross.
- They will also be more vulnerable if contacted by people with evil intentions.
- Family time is not device time.
- Ban devices from meals, company, devotional times, and any other family activities. Emphasize that being with people means being present and paying attention to them.
- Interacting with family is where children learn their social skills – it is important time for all ages.
- Teach and model time management. Children need to know that we should be using our time for what is valuable, not just what is easy or convenient.
Many children have had greatly increased screen time since the COVID lockdowns began and there are many studies going on about the results. So far, the news is not good, but not unexpected.
Screen time replaces physical activity, outdoor activity, social interaction, and affects the way a child perceives and thinks. One of the most important things to convey to them is that getting them off the screen is not a punishment – it’s an opportunity to do all sorts of even better things.