Questions to prompt discussion with students:

‍Parents and Teachers: View the full VIP Facilitation Guide Here

Parents of Elementary School Students (dialogue starters):

Setting Healthy Limits

• What rules, limits, or even apps do you think might work for your child and your family to keep screen time down to healthy limits?

Developing Healthy Habits

• How can you start an open dialogue with your child now about the pitfalls of negative screen time to help them develop healthy habits as they mature?

What If My Child is Introverted?

• If you have a shy or introverted child, what are some ways you can help them find in-person activities that fit their comfort level and provide healthy alternatives to screen time?

Parents of Middle School Students (dialogue starters):

Learning to Take Breaks

• How do you think your child would react if asked to put their phone away for a day or two, maybe on a family vacation?

Screen Time Rules

• How much screen time do you think is healthy for your child at his/her age, and do you have family rules to keep your child from overdoing it?

Screen Time Addiction

• In what ways can overuse of a phone or other device resemble addiction?

Parents of High School Students (dialogue starters):

Identifying Goals

• What are some things you’d like to see your student dedicate more time to if they reduced the amount of time they spent on devices?

Recognizing Problematic Usage

• If you have seen indicators or behaviors in your high schooler that you believe suggest problematic screen time usage, how can you address these concerns openly?

Sharing Insights

• If you had to share one key insight or piece of advice from the video with another parent, what would it be? 

More resources for parents, students, & educators

• ‍Balancing Video Game Screen time for Teens‍
• 50+ Tips to Limit Screen Time Without Conflict‍
• Using YouTube to Explore Colleges and Careers‍
• Positive Ways to Use ChatGPT for Students

Conclusion

Navigating screen time issues today is a huge challenge but finding balance is possible. There are definitely many negative consequences for excessive screen time, but in moderation, screen time offers many opportunities for teens to learn and develop their talents. By starting early, teens can set themselves up for a lifetime of balanced screen time use and reduce the potential negative impact.