Welcome to the Student Portal!
Please enter the 7 digit code your district/school provided
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
If your district isn't a partner yet, click here to email them
Understanding the Connection Between Screen Time and Motivation (For Students & Parents)
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.
