Young child using a tablet device while his father observes

Mother and young son smiling while looking at a tablet

Family time

Age 11-18

Research-Backed Do’s and Don’ts for Healthy Child Development and Media Use

The Do’s

Learn about the changes in the adolescent brain that make adolescent youth more vulnerable to problematic media use.
Nurture regular, curious, judgement-free conversations about your adolescent’s life, including their media use.
- Actively listen to their perspective.
- Teach self -reflection – encourage your adolescent to notice how different types of media use make them feel both during and afterwards.
- Build empathy and connection – share your own challenges and regrets with media use.
- Leave judgement at the door – try to temper your own emotional responses to what they share.
Delay smartphone ownership until your adolescent displays signs of readiness – in general, later is better.
- Review signs of readiness for a smartphone.
- Introduce “dumb” devices (e.g flip phones, or locked down “smart” phones) first for safety and communication.
- Whatever phone you get for your child and whenever you get it, consider a smart phone agreement and modify it as you go along as needed.
- Tie increased digital privileges to demonstrations of increased responsibility and self-regulation around media use.
Support quality sleep as a foundation for cognitive, attentional, and mental health.
- Keep devices out of bedrooms as much as possible, but especially overnight.
- Minimize screen-based media use an hour or two before bedtime.
- Encourage sleep regularity – going to bed and waking up around the same time every night of the week.
Encourage use of media that is positive for mental and social health: actively engaging, meaningful, socially-connecting, or physically active.
Co-create a balanced daily routine and “media diet” that includes regular times for in-person socializing, physical activity, and other healthy routines along with media use.
- Create routine “connection time” and “tech free” times and spaces for the entire family.
- Model accountability to the family plan.
Know that the strongest predictor of your child’s media use is your own. Put your own phone down and model paying attention to your child and others who are in your physical presence.
Understand the impacts of social media use on adolescent body image for all genders.
Have “the talk” to communicate your values and counteract unrealistic media images of sex and sexuality – almost ¾ of today’s adolescents have intentionally or unintentionally come across pornographic content online.
Watch for signs of problematic media use – impairment of normal mood and function in daily life.
Educate yourself on teen use of AI companions/chatbots and related risks.

The Don’ts

Don’t be overwhelmed – if changes need to be made to make media use healthier, it’s best to make one change at a time.
Do not focus solely on restriction – parent with the goal of developing your teens’ critical thinking skills and eventual autonomy over their own digital lives.
Discourage uses of media that act like “junk food” to the adolescent brain – e.g. long stretches of passive social media scrolling or passive gaming (watching gaming content instead of participating).
Discourage multitasking and minimize notifications and distractions during learning and study time to support adolescent attentional and cognitive health.
Beware “not my kid” syndrome – make yourself and your child aware of extremely common and likely threats to their safety, including viral self-harm and other forms of social contagion, sextortion attempts, and illegal drug sales.

Source/for more information: The Children and Screens Guide for Child Development and Media Use: Adolescence Ages 11-18