These are great tips! Thanks for sharing this. I think when I first started learning all of the dangers that can come from excessive screentime, I swung all the way to "no screen time at all," and I am starting to see that it's important to find a balance, so I appreciate the tips you shared on how to do that wisely. I especially like the screen-free zones! Great idea.
I’m glad you found this helpful. It is inevitable that they are now in our lives so the question becomes how we use them wisely and seek God’s guidance in doing so. How do we bring Him glory in the process?
Great article Matt! My oldest daughter now 8 grew up with “unlimited” screentime and seeing what that did to her spirit, we took it away permanently right before she turned 7. It was the best decision we have made!
Our daughter is 5.5, and we have slowly given her some since she turned 5, but we have learned to keep it very limited. Even small doses changes her attitude. We are not rushing it at all!
I truly appreciate this as well! Please feel free to subscribe. You’ll receive new articles for free each Tuesday. Also, encourage them to join us and subscribe. I love the community we are creating on here.
I’m just grateful these articles have been so helpful to others. The conversations it has generated has been encouraging. Humbled that people like you are then passing them on to others.
I agree! I love the community! My new thing has been sharing others articles outside of this platform regularly to spread some of these amazing writers out into the world for others to benefit that are not on substack. Share. Share. Share. It’s the best for all of us to grow!
So glad to hear this has been helpful for you. It is not easy. Our kids are not old enough for devices yet, and I’m no expert, but we are carefully praying and thinking through how we will implement screens in our home.
Those statistics are mind-boggling. It’s wild to think that our generation grew up without high speed internet and cell phones (especially smart iPhones), and now it’s the norm. That’s solid advice you gave! I think #1 is the most important too - modeling for our kids a life without our face stuck in a screen.
Thank you for the kind words. It has opened my eyes and challenged me (even in just writing these articles). I remember clearly life without devices. It is possible to regain that kind of life again… to at least slow down.
Love this article. I must say, it breaks my heart, wherever you go people are fixed to their screens. Even sadder is that the parents meant to be setting the example, are often part of the problem. They respond to their children without even looking up from their screens.😢
I am glad to hear you found that helpful. I want to guard my kids from too much screen time and devices, but I also want to teach them how to use it. They cannot grow up not knowing how to use a device. So it is all about finding redemptive ways to do so.
Please feel free to share this with others that might find it helpful.
A long way! And that is true for any topic. We the parent must be the example and model before our kids what we are expecting to see out of them. I’m seeking to do better about my time on my phone when at home.
Great insights here Matt. I believe many give up on this because you have to be in it for the long haul. It’s a challenge especially the older kids get. Modeling is incredibly important as well as having screen free places (as you said). We work hard to not allow screens in bedrooms or places where it is easy to hide. One of the biggest challenges with older kids is that they will struggle with comparison of their peers, even though many are addicted and dependent.
All valid concerns and challenges. I do not envy you with older kids and navigating this conversation. Yes, it takes diligence from us each and every day.
Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts. Please feel free to pass this on to others who may need it.
Good words. I have started leaning into more of our WiFi filters and time limits recently. When they ask for extra time, I tell them no unless there is a special reason. With four kids, if everyone asks, then everyone gets. I 100% agree that if I am limiting their time, I can't very well be sitting on my phone mindlessly scrolling. We have to lead with wisdom.
It takes parents modeling the behaviors they would like to see out of their kids. We must lead by example and allow our actions to match what we are teaching.
Glad to hear this spoke to you. Thank you for reading! Please feel free to share it with others who might benefit from it.
I am so happy to hear that and glad these are helpful. It is something I have to continue to think carefully about on a daily basis. Please feel free to share this with others you feel might benefit from this information.
Thank you for the kind words. It is a daily mindset that we as parents have to learn to model the appropriate behavior before our kids. Please feel free to pass this on share this with others. I am glad to hear it resonated with you.
This is really insightful and helpful, thanks Matt. I think about this a lot as I'm raising two boys. We make sure to sit down and have dinner as a family most nights of the week, and no screen are involved. We've also taken multiple road trips and havent introduced screens yet. It definitely takes more work as a parent, because you have to be engaged, but I've found it so so worth it.
It is certainly worth it, and I echo those sentiments. We have 3 under 6, and we have no screens at the dinner table and just movies in the car (but on a very limited basis and only on longer road trips). We also have just now started introducing a tablet to our oldest on occasion. We are trying to think carefully about how we navigate each of these steps with them.
Please feel free to pass this on or share it with others you think might benefit from this information or feel free to subscribe. Thank you for taking the time to read it.
Here is another great idea from Courtney McGee on how set appropriate boundaries at home for your family.
https://substack.com/@likeitshard/note/c-201810330?r=16tp9b&utm_source=notes-share-action&utm_medium=web
These are great tips! Thanks for sharing this. I think when I first started learning all of the dangers that can come from excessive screentime, I swung all the way to "no screen time at all," and I am starting to see that it's important to find a balance, so I appreciate the tips you shared on how to do that wisely. I especially like the screen-free zones! Great idea.
I’m glad you found this helpful. It is inevitable that they are now in our lives so the question becomes how we use them wisely and seek God’s guidance in doing so. How do we bring Him glory in the process?
Great article Matt! My oldest daughter now 8 grew up with “unlimited” screentime and seeing what that did to her spirit, we took it away permanently right before she turned 7. It was the best decision we have made!
Thank you so much for sharing!
Our daughter is 5.5, and we have slowly given her some since she turned 5, but we have learned to keep it very limited. Even small doses changes her attitude. We are not rushing it at all!
Shared to my local mom Facebook group for other moms to read!
I truly appreciate this as well! Please feel free to subscribe. You’ll receive new articles for free each Tuesday. Also, encourage them to join us and subscribe. I love the community we are creating on here.
Beat you too it😊🙏🏼
I’m just grateful these articles have been so helpful to others. The conversations it has generated has been encouraging. Humbled that people like you are then passing them on to others.
I agree! I love the community! My new thing has been sharing others articles outside of this platform regularly to spread some of these amazing writers out into the world for others to benefit that are not on substack. Share. Share. Share. It’s the best for all of us to grow!
Such a hard thing to balance! And you did a great job helping provide a scale! Thanks Matt.
So glad to hear this has been helpful for you. It is not easy. Our kids are not old enough for devices yet, and I’m no expert, but we are carefully praying and thinking through how we will implement screens in our home.
Those statistics are mind-boggling. It’s wild to think that our generation grew up without high speed internet and cell phones (especially smart iPhones), and now it’s the norm. That’s solid advice you gave! I think #1 is the most important too - modeling for our kids a life without our face stuck in a screen.
Thank you for the kind words. It has opened my eyes and challenged me (even in just writing these articles). I remember clearly life without devices. It is possible to regain that kind of life again… to at least slow down.
Love this article. I must say, it breaks my heart, wherever you go people are fixed to their screens. Even sadder is that the parents meant to be setting the example, are often part of the problem. They respond to their children without even looking up from their screens.😢
I will be sharing this with my children.
Yes, I notice it as well. We try to be conscious about the amount of time our own faces are buried in our screens. It starts with us!
Thank you for sharing and passing it along. I pray it is beneficial and encouraging for all who read it!
Such a great & practical read! We love the Yippee app for when we do use screen time(it is great for family discipleship)!
Thanks for the tip! I’ll have to remember that.
Thank you for sharing, pastor! Would love to connect!😀
Feel free to subscribe, I’d appreciate it.
Yes, just subscribed, friend! God bless you!🌹
Appreciate it!
Same here. We’re kind of doing 1–3 in practice, sometimes by accident….
but #4 i never thought of.
Turning tech into a tool for formation instead of just something to manage feels like the real unlock.
I am glad to hear you found that helpful. I want to guard my kids from too much screen time and devices, but I also want to teach them how to use it. They cannot grow up not knowing how to use a device. So it is all about finding redemptive ways to do so.
Please feel free to share this with others that might find it helpful.
Being an example goes a long way. Great tips Matt!
A long way! And that is true for any topic. We the parent must be the example and model before our kids what we are expecting to see out of them. I’m seeking to do better about my time on my phone when at home.
Great insights here Matt. I believe many give up on this because you have to be in it for the long haul. It’s a challenge especially the older kids get. Modeling is incredibly important as well as having screen free places (as you said). We work hard to not allow screens in bedrooms or places where it is easy to hide. One of the biggest challenges with older kids is that they will struggle with comparison of their peers, even though many are addicted and dependent.
All valid concerns and challenges. I do not envy you with older kids and navigating this conversation. Yes, it takes diligence from us each and every day.
Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts. Please feel free to pass this on to others who may need it.
Good words. I have started leaning into more of our WiFi filters and time limits recently. When they ask for extra time, I tell them no unless there is a special reason. With four kids, if everyone asks, then everyone gets. I 100% agree that if I am limiting their time, I can't very well be sitting on my phone mindlessly scrolling. We have to lead with wisdom.
It takes parents modeling the behaviors they would like to see out of their kids. We must lead by example and allow our actions to match what we are teaching.
Glad to hear this spoke to you. Thank you for reading! Please feel free to share it with others who might benefit from it.
These are really helpful, Matt! Although we don't have kids yet, I'm already thinking about how we'll manage the screen time issue.
I am so happy to hear that and glad these are helpful. It is something I have to continue to think carefully about on a daily basis. Please feel free to share this with others you feel might benefit from this information.
I’m sure, it’s a crazy world out there. And, absolutely. Thank you, Matt!
Great read, Matt. Good reminders and suggestions! I'm challenged daily to set the tone and expectation with my own screen time.
Thank you for the kind words. It is a daily mindset that we as parents have to learn to model the appropriate behavior before our kids. Please feel free to pass this on share this with others. I am glad to hear it resonated with you.
This is really insightful and helpful, thanks Matt. I think about this a lot as I'm raising two boys. We make sure to sit down and have dinner as a family most nights of the week, and no screen are involved. We've also taken multiple road trips and havent introduced screens yet. It definitely takes more work as a parent, because you have to be engaged, but I've found it so so worth it.
It is certainly worth it, and I echo those sentiments. We have 3 under 6, and we have no screens at the dinner table and just movies in the car (but on a very limited basis and only on longer road trips). We also have just now started introducing a tablet to our oldest on occasion. We are trying to think carefully about how we navigate each of these steps with them.
Please feel free to pass this on or share it with others you think might benefit from this information or feel free to subscribe. Thank you for taking the time to read it.