Life Ed Program Development Manager Michelle Weisbaum and Learning and Development Manager Lisa Barber will share practical guidance at the Screen Time Tips for Families Webinar. Photo: Life Ed.
If you’ve ever switched on the tele to get five minutes of peace, and guilt and uncertainty later set in, you’re not alone.
As ubiquitous as screens are in modern parenting, many parents fear losing their children to screen addiction, but are lost as to how to navigate this frontier.
Now, Illawarra-based health professionals are coming together to cut through the noise and provide practical, real-world guidance on navigating digital life at home.
Healthy Cities Australia, in collaboration with the Illawarra Local Health District and Life Ed, is inviting families, educators and community members across the Illawarra to join an upcoming Screen Time Webinar, featuring insights from Illawarra-based health professionals who understand the realities families face today.
It comes after a survey with 237 responses revealed families wanted practical tips that work in real households, rather than fear-based messaging or rigid guidelines.
Key areas of concern include parental controls, balancing family life, and educational screen use.
Children’s Health Promotion Team Leader Michelle Barry said a dramatic shift in screen habits among Australian children in recent years meant the conversation could no longer simply be about ‘less screen time’, but about “balanced, healthy and meaningful use”.
“Screens are now embedded in learning, socialising and entertainment,” she said. “We need to change the negative narrative around screens. If we think of screens like food, ie something we have to consume, how we consume it makes all the difference.”
Screen use continues to be one of the most common concerns raised by parents, teachers and health professionals. Photo: Yuri Arcurs People Images.
Life Ed Learning Program Development Manager Michelle Weisbaum said while parents likely encountered less friction when conversations about screen use were had early and often, it was never too late to implement management strategies in a household.
She said the most effective strategies were built with children, not just for them.
“Engage your young people in the process, rather than handing down rules from above,” she said.
“When you’re deciding what your family’s ‘digital agreement’ is, make it a discussion; know that it’s crucial that kids are part of the conversation. The saying goes, planning together builds ownership, but planning alone builds resistance.
“Once you’ve decided what a positive digital life looks like for your family, you can start to tease out what that means practically speaking. Set clear boundaries as to where and when to use technology — perhaps as a family you agree that places like bedrooms, bathrooms and the dining table are tech-free zones, or certain times of day are off limits.”
Ms Weisbaum said one challenge in modern parenting was modelling good behaviour.
Sometimes, acknowledging the struggle can be a key factor in coming together as a family in digital success.
“The parents of today didn’t necessarily grow up with technology like our kids are. It’s OK to admit when we get things wrong, and acknowledge it’s a new space for us all,” she said.
Ms Barry said it was important for parents to be realistic about the role of screens in modern life, and to equip themselves with practical tools for navigating issues.
“In our ‘Active in Between’ program held in five service areas in the Illawarra for pre-teens, most children said they would not tell their parents if something went wrong online for fear their screens would be taken away,” she said.
The Screen Time Tips for Families Webinar will provide practical guidance on screen time versus screen quality, building healthier digital habits, online safety for children and the important role parents and carers play in shaping children’s digital citizenship.
The session is designed to be supportive, non-judgmental and grounded in local family experiences, and will include opportunities for Q&A.
The Screen Time Tips for Families Webinar takes place online on Wednesday 11 February from 7:30 to 8:30 pm.
