While some might consider summer fun to be swimming, barbecuing, or taking part in an adventure outdoors, many children would prefer the extra time to play their favorite video game or spend time on TikTok.
In a new set of resources, the Child Mind Institute notes that loosening the rules for screen time might seem fair when school’s out – however, a lack of rules will not work.
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The institute’s strategies for summer screen time rules include information on how to offer children more freedom to play games or connect with friends online without encroaching on what they need to do to stay healthy during the summer months.
The beginning of the season is a good opportunity to assess a child’s tech use, identify the risks you want to avoid, and make a practical plan.
The resources also include an article on screens and neurodivergent children, including those with autism, ADHD, or a learning disorder. It focuses on how these children might be able to get an additional benefit from online engagement, but also be more vulnerable to addictive or unsafe behaviors.
One article addresses the issue of when children are ready for social media use, while another discusses how to create a structure for the summer that makes children feel comfortable. There are also pieces on how to get children to spend more time outdoors and how building chores into their lives helps to teach them responsibility and feel the value of contributing to the family.
The Child Mind Institute’s resources include:
