Children today are using technology and social media more than ever before. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents and caregivers develop a family media plan that works with your family values and parenting style. But you might be asking yourself what is a Family Media Plan?
A Family Media Plan is a set of guidelines customized to your family values that establishes how, when and where technology is used. It can include screen-free times, screen-free zones, device curfew, safety and digital citizenship. The simple act of having a discussion about media use in your household will hep your family identify the purpose of using technology (work, school work, social interactions, communication, games, etc) and create a balance between your online and off-line lives.
To create your own Family Media Plan head to https://www.healthychildren.org/English/media/Pages/default.aspx. The recommendations to families from the Pediatrics article published in November 2016 includes:
- “Avoid digital media use (except video-chatting) in children younger than 18 to 24 months.
- For children ages 18 to 24 months of age, if you want to introduce digital media, choose high-quality programming and use media together with your child. Avoid solo media use in this age group.
- Do not feel pressured to introduce technology early; interfaces are so intuitive that children will figure them out quickly once they start using them at home or in school.
- For children 2 to 5 years of age, limit screen use to 1 hour per day of high-quality programming, coview with your children, help children understand what they are seeing, and help them apply what they learn to the world around them.
- Avoid fast-paced programs (young children do not understand them as well), apps with lots of distracting content, and any violent content.
- Turn off televisions and other devices when not in use.
- Avoid using media as the only way to calm your child. Although there are intermittent times (eg, medical procedures, airplane flights) when media is useful as a soothing strategy, there is concern that using media as strategy to calm could lead to problems with limit setting or the inability of children to develop their own emotion regulation. Ask your pediatrician for help if needed.
- Monitor children’s media content and what apps are used or downloaded. Test apps before the child uses them, play together, and ask the child what he or she thinks about the app.
- Keep bedrooms, mealtimes, and parent–child playtimes screen free for children and parents. Parents can set a “do not disturb” option on their phones during these times.
- No screens 1 hour before bedtime, and remove devices from bedrooms before bed.
- Consult the American Academy of Pediatrics Family Media Use Plan, available at: www.healthychildren.org/MediaUsePlan.”
I’ve also attached a sample Family Media Plan below that I use with my family. I started with the AAP’s media plan and customized it to fit my family and our goals of using Media. I have young children therefore my plan reflects their ages in regard to media use. It is also important to remember the ages of each child, their ability and developmental level and have a specific media plan for the child that reflects those differences. There is not a one size fits all with media use and as the parent you know yours child’s abilities, strengths and areas of concern. I personally watched how my sons respond to various media platforms and adjusted when I noticed a negative behavior. Certain shows caused more hyper and aggressive behavior so those were eliminated. Media use can have an enormous positive effect and is a powerful learning and communicating platform for growth. As the parent we can provide guidance navigating media, modeling positive behavior and act as a resource when things make them uncomfortable or confused.
Sample Family Media Plan
Screen-Free Zones: These are areas in our home where screens are not allowed.
- Mobile devices and TVs are not allowed in the boys bedroom, bathrooms, dining room and the playroom.
Screen-Free Times: These are times throughout our daily routine where screens are off- limits.
- Mobile devices & TVs are not allowed in the stroller, playroom, bedroom.
- We will not use mobile devices or other screens during the following times: meal times, family time, while in the car (except for long periods of time), one hour before bedtime.
Device Curfew:
- We will not use mobile devices or screens one hour before bedtime and all devices must charge in the kitchen overnight.
Types of Media Used: We want to use media that promotes creativity, learning, and connection.
When we have screen-time, we will:
- Co-Play (we use the game or app together)
- Co- View (we watch the media together)
- Use media to connect to others (via FaceTiming, etc.)
- NOT Spend lots of time watching fast-paced shows/apps with lots of distractions
- Watch “educational” shows/ app that have been reviewed and vetted by trusted sources to be educational such as PBS or Common Sense Media
- Use media to be creative
- NOT visit new websites or video sites without permission and having a parent check it first
- NOT download apps, movies, or games without permission and asking an adult if they are age-appropriate
- NOT play video games that are against our family rules (at home or at someone else's’ house)
- NOT use inappropriate/ unfiltered sites such as YouTube
- Screen-time is limited (during the week) to 2 hours a day. It usually includes a show, some game time and time for educational apps/videos.
Balancing Online and Off-Line Activities
By decreasing screen time, we will have more time for:
- Being with my family
- Playing blocks, LEGO’s, puzzles, and board games
- Playing with friends
- Playing outside
- Being creative and imaginative
- Creating a healthy lifestyle of movement and play (riding bikes, climbing, etc.)
Digital Citizenship
- We will be good digital citizens by telling a parent if we get messages or photos the make us uncomfortable
- We will think about our comments, posts and social presences and the consequences of those actions and use constructive language and tone.
Online Safety
We will follow these digital rule regarding safety:
- Do not befriend, chat with or virtually game with someone without a parent’s permission
- Review Privacy Settings on ll sites with our children
- Do not share private photos online without content from every person in the photo
- Do not give out personal information online
Sleep & Exercise
We will get enough sleep & exercise by not having screen-time 1 hour before bedtime and trying to get 10-13 hours of sleep (including naps).
*As parents we agree to model the behavior we want from our children regarding digital citizenship and screen free times/ zones around family time and meals. When we need to use devices we will narrate what we are doing so our children understand the purpose (i.e.Daddy needs to send an email out to a client and will play as soon as he's done.) @TeachingDigitalLiteracy
1 American Academy of Pediatrics, Council on Communications and Media. Media and Young Minds. Pediatrics. 2016: Volume 138/Issue 5. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/138/5/e20162591
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