Raising Digitally Responsible Youth

GENERAL HOUSEHOLD SUGGESTIONS

There are some general parenting/caregiver tips that help navigate a household to respect digital boundaries. Some of these can include: • Keeping phones and devices out of the bedroom. Sleep is important for growth and according to Dr. Ben Carter, 89% of adolescents have at least one device in their bedrooms – most of which are used around bedtime, doubling their chances of getting insufficient sleep . 1 Sleep disturbance in childhood is known to have adverse effects on health, including poor diet, obesity, sedentary behavior, reduced immune function, and stunted growth . It has also been linked to mental health concerns 2 . • If possible, have a central charging station for all portable digital devices. The kitchen table or island, living room, or another common area in your house is a great place to keep all household devices charged at night, including your own! By modeling digitally responsible behavior and setting an example for youth that you don’t need to sleep with your device(s), it helps children understand that they don’t need to either!

Photo by Driven by Décor. • Know their passwords – it is y our parental right. You paid for the device that you gave your child, which means…you guessed it! You own it! You have the right to spot- check devices that belong to you, including the ones that you gave your child. • Stay educated. If your child comes to you and asks to download an app that you’re unfamiliar with, download the app and try it out yourself first. Play around with it and do your research . If your child already has an app or game, ask them to teach you about it and how it works!

1 Bedtime use of media devices more than doubles the risk of poor sleep in children -- ScienceDaily 2 Children and Sleep | Sleep Foundation

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