Questions to prompt discussion with students:

Parents and Teachers: View the full VIP Facilitation Guide here

Elementary School Students (dialogue starters):

There’s Life Beyond Devices

• What offline things are important to you that you might miss out on if you spend too much of your time on screens?

Tracking Time

• What are some practical ways you can keep track of how much time you spend online and set limits so you don’t overdo it?

What Games Can’t Fix

• Why is it better sometimes to deal directly with something you’re worried about—or ask for help—than look for an escape like playing online games?

Middle School Students (dialogue starters):

The Screen Calls

• Why is it so easy to jump onto social media when you know you have other immediate goals you need to achieve? 

The Social Media Escape

• Can you imagine a situation where a classmate might check into social media just to avoid a stressful situation?

Manage Your Screen Time

• What are some ways you can monitor and limit your own screen time so it doesn’t take away from other priorities in your life?

High School Students (dialogue starters):

Why Escapes Don’t Work

• What are some alternative coping strategies instead of going straight to social media to get your mind off a problem or stressful situation?

Getting the Job Done‍

• How can you be more aware of when you might be using screen time to procrastinate? 

A Day to Focus

• How do you think it would feel to avoid social media even for a day just to focus on meeting other goals?

More resources for parents, students, & educators 

• Making Screen Time Fun While Reducing the Negative Impact
• ‍Balancing Video Game Screen Time for Teens‍
• 50+ Tips to Limit Screen Time Without Conflict‍
• Using YouTube to Explore Colleges and Careers

Conclusion

Many parents and educators are concerned about screen time's impact on a student’s motivation. We share that concern. Excessive screen time can impact a student’s motivation and cause many negative consequences. However, there are also many positive uses for screen time if students choose to cultivate a healthy relationship with screens and use it to support their personal growth.