Screen Smart! Finding Balance in the Digital World

Target Audience: Primary Students
Topic: Screen Time and Digital Wellbeing
Platform: Google Sites

Welcome

Welcome to Screen Smart! This lesson will help you learn how to use your screens in a healthy and balanced way.

You’ll explore what digital wellbeing means, how to take care of your eyes and mind, and how to make smart choices about your time online.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Understand what screen time and digital wellbeing mean.
Identify healthy and unhealthy screen habits.
Apply strategies to balance screen use in everyday life.
Reflect on your own digital habits and make positive changes.

Understanding what screen time and digital wellbeing means

Screen time is the amount of time spent on digital devices, while digital wellbeing for kids is their overall health (developmental, emotional, physical, and social) in the digital world. Recommendations for screen time vary by age, with organizations like the AAP suggesting no more than 1 hour daily for ages 2-5 and prioritizing high-quality, co-viewed content for this age group, while promoting balanced habits for older children and teens.

Let's get started

Healthy screen time :

Set screen-free zones and times: Make bedrooms, dining tables, and family outings screen-free. Avoid screens during meals and at least 30–60 minutes before bedtime.
Prioritize quality content: Choose interactive, educational, and non-violent media, and co-view or co-play when possible to facilitate conversation. The quality of content can be more important than the quantity of time spent on screens.
Promote alternative activities: physical play, hobbies, reading, and creative pursuits to balance screen time.
Talk with your parents: Have open conversations about their media use, experiences, and digital citizenship. To Help youunderstand the importance of screen time rules for your safety and well-being.

Unhealthy screen time habits:

Passive consumption: Watching hours of TV or videos can lead to a lack of engagement and lower academic scores.
Exposure to inappropriate content: Unmonitored screen time can expose children to violence, inappropriate sexual content, and cyberbullying.
Social comparison: Social media can lead to comparing one's self to unrealistic ideals, contributing to eating disorders and body image issues.
Replacing other activities: When screen time takes the place of reading, playing, and interacting with family and friends, it limits opportunities for learning and connection.

Strategies to balance screen time in everyday life:

Prioritize offline activities: Ensure a balance with plenty of non-screen activities like reading, creative play, sports, hobbies, and social time with friends.
Schedule unplugged time: unstructured, unplugged playtime and engage in family outings or other face-to-face social opportunities.
Make screen time active: Choose shows or games that involve movement or encourage families to be active during commercial breaks.

Source 2

Find a happy medium for your children's screen time by establishing firm boundaries, designating specific areas (such as their bedroom or dining area) where they are not allowed to use screens, and encouraging them to engage in other activities, such as reading aloud or playing outside, instead. Also, talk to your kid about what they see on TV and set a good example for them by limiting your screen time.

To cut down kids' screen time, set clear limits and boundaries, like a daily schedule and screen-free times during meals and before bed. Encourage non-screen activities such as playing, hobbies, and family time. Be a role model by reducing your own screen time and keep devices out of bedrooms to prevent distractions and ensure better sleep.