Summer Screen Time Rules: Cracking the Code

This post is about summer screen time rules and cracking the code to have a balanced break.

We have Eighteen Summers with our Kids: The Importance of Summer Screen Time Rules

With five children, I’ve gone through different seasons with mixed emotions regarding summer break. When they were younger, they were homeschooled, so there was no definitive difference between school and summer, except less work for me. We did everything outside; breakfast, lunch, dinner, movies, camping, fishing, hiking, etc. And I knew my job was to keep everyone alive while they explored our world.

When they were in their tweens, I had moments of dread because I was accustomed to them being away at public school. Now all five would be home wanting to eat all day and tell me how bored they were. This was also the era the PS4 was introduced to our boys. Electronic babysitter or insatiable addiction? The latter would reign supreme.

Introduction to Smartphones

As our oldest son started high school, I grew to LOVE summer break, knowing our family LIVED to be outside. Everyone was independent, and I didn’t have to watch them so closely. I was also acutely aware that my summers with them were decreasing yearly. But this season also brought smartphones and iPads. I found myself pulling my hair out with the constant monitoring of electronics. In previous summers, I had to remind them to come in to eat… Now I had to unplug all electronics and beg them to go outside.

This was a battle I refused to lose, but there had to be a better way to fight it. That’s when I created the Johnson Code of Conduct, which you’ll learn about at the end!

Summer Screen Time Rules: Cracking the Code

Welcome to our blog, where we delve into the fascinating realm of screen time and its impact on children’s well-being. In today’s digital age, it has become increasingly crucial to understand the need for setting boundaries and implementing effective rules, especially during the summer break when children have more leisure time. If you’re like me, you’ve witnessed how excessive screen time can have far-reaching consequences on your child’s physical health and social and emotional well-being.

This article will explore the profound impact of excessive screen time, highlight the importance of summer screen time rules, and provide practical insights on designing a customized schedule that promotes a balanced and enriching summer break. Additionally, we’ll explore engaging alternatives to screen time, ways to nurture family connections and practical strategies for managing screen time during travel and vacations. Join us as we empower parents with valuable tools and tips, including teaching self-regulation, monitoring, and instilling the Johnson Code of Conduct. Let’s unlock the secrets to a harmonious and memorable summer break by cracking the code of screen time rules!

The Impact of Excessive Screen Time on Children’s Well-being

Mamas, before we dive into the statistics, I don’t mean to share these to add any guilt or stress. But I do hope they impact you as they did me. I want better for my kids; I know you do, too.

According to two national surveys of kids aged 12 to 15 compiled by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, published in the July 2014 issue of NCHS Data Brief:

 

• • 38 percent of children under the age of 2 used a mobile device for media in 2013

• • 75 percent of teens spend at least two hours a day watching T.V. and using a computer (This article is excellent on the damage too much internet has on the teenage brain.)

• • 15 percent of kids watch T.V. for more than four hours each day

• • 12 percent of kids use their computers for more than four hours a day

As the Connected Kid Report illustrates, these results did not include cell phone use, which would likely have compounded these statistics. Childwise looked at all screen use of 2000 British kids aged 5 to 16 and found that they engaged with a T.V., games console, computer, or mobile for a whopping average of 6.5 hours daily.

Dr. Robert Pressman, research director of the New England Center for Pediatric Psychology and lead researcher of The Learning Habit Study, examined family routines in 46,000 U.S. homes of children in grades K-12. The study found that after just 45 minutes of screen time, children’s grades, sleep, social skills, and emotional balance start to decline. For example, kids took 20 times longer to fall asleep than children with limited media/screen use. Most interestingly (And the biggest eye-opener for me), the researchers found that media/screen usage had an apparent, detrimental effect on kids’ Grit scores — their willingness to persevere in the face of difficulty. And that affects success. “Grit,” according to Dr. Melissa Nemon, the lead statistician for the Learning Habit, is “the character trait most closely linked to academic achievement.”

Mamas! This is not the time to be soft. This is not the time to give in. This is not the time to parent out of guilt. Our kids need us to set boundaries now more than ever!

Understanding the Need for Summer Screen Time Rules: Ensuring a Balanced Break for Kids

Understanding the need for summer screen time rules is crucial in ensuring a balanced break for kids. As the allure of digital devices and endless entertainment options intensifies during the summer, it becomes essential for parents to establish clear guidelines. By setting limits on screen time and encouraging a healthy balance between online and offline activities, children can experience a well-rounded summer filled with growth, exploration, and social interaction. Summer screen time rules provide structure and guidance, allowing kids to engage in various enriching experiences, develop essential life skills, and foster overall well-being. It’s about striking the right balance, ensuring that technology enhances rather than hinders their summer break, setting them up for a fulfilling and memorable season.

Setting Clear and Realistic Boundaries: Key Principles for Effective Summer Screen Time Rules

You may not think your child wants boundaries, but they do. Not only do they want boundaries, they desperately need boundaries. Multiple times, I’ve taken away an iPhone or set a timer for a child, and their response has been, “Thank you, Mom. I can’t seem to stop when I know I’m supposed to.” I know, son… I get it.

Setting boundaries is vital, and communicating clear expectations is equally essential. We can make up all the rules we want, but if our kids do not know where the line is or what the consequences will be when said line is crossed, our efforts will be in vain.

Fun and Engaging Alternatives to Screen Time: Outdoor Activities and Hobbies for a Memorable Summer

Incorporating fun and engaging alternatives is critical to reducing screen time and encouraging a memorable summer. Outdoor activities and hobbies offer a fantastic opportunity for children to explore the world around them and develop new skills. The possibilities are endless, from backyard adventures to nature walks to camping trips to bike rides.

So encourage your kids to embrace outdoor play, whether organizing a neighborhood scavenger hunt, setting up a mini-garden, or trying out a new sport. Additionally, hobbies such as painting, writing, photography, or playing a musical instrument can ignite creativity and provide a sense of accomplishment. By fostering a love for outdoor activities and hobbies, you’ll help your children develop healthy habits and create lasting memories that they’ll cherish for years to come.

Don’t Be Afraid to Be the Parent and Follow Through: The Benefits of Summer Screen Time Rules

Every spring, we decide on a hiking goal for the family. The number of miles we agree upon can be obtained by either hiking as a family, with friends, or splitting up. We accumulate the total, and when we reach our goal, we celebrate by going on a family date to a nice restaurant and a night out on the town.

During every hike, each step brought some of our most beautiful conversations that ranged from:

 

• • Sex; The how-to’s, why and why-not, and everything in between. (No surprise there.)

• • “If God created us, who created God?”

• • “I know what I’m supposed to do, but why do I not want to do that?”

• • Politics, Trump, Hilary, Racism, Human Trafficking, COVID, LGBTQ, and Abortion

• • “I don’t think I want to get married.”

• • “I want to marry Chris Pratt and have four kids; two boys and two girls.” (Wonder which child that was.)

• • Discussions of W-2 employees vs. 1099 independent contractors, what “write-off” means, and what it looks like to be an entrepreneur.

So many invaluable conversations with each step. And yes, each mile also brought complaining. Not all of them at once, but at least one at a time. But without fail, they always fell silent when we arrived at the peak, lake, or waterfall. You can see and feel their growth on our hikes. They pushed through something they would rather not do and pushed their body past their usual physical limitations. (Ahhh. Sounds like building “grit”!)

Nurturing Family Connections: Creating Screen-Free Quality Time during the Summer

In today’s digital age, nurturing family connections and fostering screen-free quality time has become more critical than ever. Summer provides a perfect opportunity to prioritize meaningful interactions and create lasting memories with your loved ones. Embrace activities that encourage bonding and togetherness, such as family game nights, cooking and baking together, going for picnics, or embarking on outdoor adventures.

One of our favorite memories is planning a few summer outdoor movie and BBQ nights for our neighborhood. Everyone takes on a different responsibility to ensure the night is a success; designing the flyer, deciding on food, choosing the movie, delivering the flyers, cleaning, and setting up. Everyone takes ownership, and it pays off! A word of warning to all the mamas who like control. This is your opportunity to release your grip on perfection. Allow your children to be creative and encourage the effort and outcome of the part they play. Your house and backyard do not need to be perfect. It’s better and more welcoming if it’s not.

So engage in open conversations, listen attentively, and truly connect with one another. By setting aside designated screen-free time, you can strengthen your family bonds and create a nurturing environment for meaningful relationships to thrive. Make the most of this summer by nurturing family connections and embracing the joy of screen-free quality time, as these moments will be cherished by both children and adults alike.

Managing Screen Time during Travel and Vacations: Tips for Implementing Summer Screen Time Rules on the Go

Managing screen time during travel and vacations can be challenging. Still, with a few helpful tips, you can successfully implement your summer screen time rules on the go. First, establish clear expectations and communicate them with your children before the trip begins. Set limits on device usage and discuss alternative activities they can engage in during travel, such as reading, playing travel games, or exploring the surroundings. Plan screen-free moments during the journey, like enjoying scenic views, conversing, or trying out new experiences together.

Empowering Kids to Make Responsible Choices: Teaching Self-Regulation for Summer Screen Time

Empowering kids to make responsible choices and teaching self-regulation skills for summer screen time is crucial in today’s digital age. By equipping children with the necessary tools to manage their screen time, we can help them develop a healthy relationship with technology. Start by involving your children in creating the summer screen time rules. I love asking my kids what they think is an appropriate amount of daily screen time.

Encourage open discussions about the benefits and limitations of screen time, and help them understand the importance of balance. Teach them self-regulation strategies, such as setting goals, using timers, or practicing mindfulness techniques. Foster their decision-making skills by encouraging them to prioritize other activities and hobbies over excessive screen time. Celebrate their successes and provide gentle reminders when they need guidance.

By empowering kids to take ownership of their screen time choices and teaching them self-regulation skills, we empower them to make responsible decisions during the summer and throughout their lives.

Adapting the Johnson Code of Conduct for Summer: Practical Tips and Strategies for Implementing Summer Screen Time Rules

I read a phenomenal parenting book from my friend, Marc Spear, about establishing a “Code of Conduct” for your family. He also introduced the idea of having “deals” —- if the kids break the “deal,” they lose privileges. In my quest to find a solution for our five children with electronics and the addiction that occurs, we created….

̲T̲H̲E̲ ̲J̲O̲H̲N̲S̲O̲N̲ ̲C̲O̲D̲E̲ ̲O̲F̲ ̲C̲O̲N̲D̲U̲C̲T̲

We use six lessons to instill lifelong, healthy habits and simultaneously alleviate the technology battle. First, I will show you the habits we have chosen for our family. Then, we’ll discuss how we use them in The Johnson Code of Conduct. You are welcome to copy ours or tailor and personalize your family code of conduct to fit your family best.

Be loving and respectful of everyone in the family.

Pull your weight around the house. (Chores and basic team mentality.)

Be an active participant in good communication. (And no, grumbling, grunting, or mumbling are not effective means of communication. 

Keep your grades decent and try your best. (Good work ethic and maximize your ability to learn new things.) 

Stay physically active and take care of your temple. (Get off your butt and get some fresh air!) 

Rest your soul on Sundays – Unplug from electronics, friends, and screens once a week. (This will be the hardest habit to implement and keep consistent, but trust me… EVERY HUMAN BEING, ESPECIALLY OUR CHILDREN, NEEDS TO PRACTICE THIS! Read more about a Digital Detox Day HERE.

The concept is simple: If any of these are broken or not followed, your electronics are removed. The duration of the time without electronics is pre-determined with you and each child. Every age and every child is different and should have different expectations that are decided on privately, away from the other children.

Grace is always given! But here is the beauty of the Johnson Code of Conduct: It takes the emotions out!

Did you complete the Code of Conduct? Awesome, here’s your phone. You didn’t? Well, you don’t get your phone until you’re done. You can also ask them if they’d like their phone time all in one chunk or broken down into segments. And screens are NEVER, EVER allowed in bed at bedtime. They should all be charging in the kitchen an hour before bedtime.

We’re not perfect at this and lose sight of the six habits. But this guideline will become easier when you stay consistent and your children know what to expect! It’s also a good test for us as parents. Are we following those same habits? Are we putting our phones away and taking advantage of the outdoors?

 

In Conclusion

In conclusion, cracking the code of summer screen time rules is crucial for ensuring the well-being of our children and fostering a healthy digital lifestyle. By understanding the impact of excessive screen time, setting clear boundaries, and exploring fun alternatives, we can create a summer break that is both enjoyable and balanced. Remember to nurture family connections, empower kids to make responsible choices, and set goals together!

With the right strategies and a commitment to creating a screen-free quality time, we can make this summer a time of growth, connection, and cherished memories. Embrace the power of summer screen time rules and embark on a journey that will benefit your family for years. So, let’s crack the code together and make this summer an unforgettable experience for all.

P.S. I can’t wait to see your Family Code of Conduct!

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