ISD 728 Assistant Director of Instructional Technology, Troy Anderson interviews Pediatrician, Dr. Eric Barth from Allina Clinic in Ramsey Minnesota on the topic of Screen Time and useful tips for parents and adults. 

Keep family mealtimes, other family and social gatherings, and children's bedrooms screen free. Turn off televisions that you aren't watching, because background TV can get in the way of face-to-face time with kids.

Media use, like all other activities, should have reasonable limits. Unstructured and offline play stimulates creativity. Make unplugged playtime a daily priority, especially for very young children.

Media should work for you and within your family values and parenting style. When used thoughtfully and appropriately, media can enhance daily life. But when used inappropriately or without thought, media can displace many important activities such as face-to-face interaction, family-time, outdoor-play, exercise, unplugged downtime and sleep. 

Teach and model kindness and good manners online. Because children are great mimics, limit your own media use. In fact, you'll be more available for and connected with your children if you're interacting, hugging and playing with them rather than simply staring at a screen.

The same parenting guidelines apply in both real and virtual environments. Set limits; kids need and expect them. Know your children's friends, both online and off. Know what platforms, software, and apps your children are using, what sites they are visiting on the web, and what they are doing online.

 Set content and time limits on your kids’ devices.

If you are using a phone or other device, use it with your kids—together. Talk about what you see, ask them questions, and otherwise engage them face-to-face.

Read a book together, share a toy, look at the same dog in a park. When two people focus on the same thing at the same time, they are engaging in what is called "joint attention." Joint attention is a vital part of communication and language development.

Today’s kids are tech-savvy. Most of them know more about electronics than adults do. that's why it's essential to stay up-to-date on the latest cell phone app or the newest social media craze.

When you are setting screen time rules for your family, think about WHAT is on the screen & HOW it is being used, not just HOW MUCH time is being spent.

Final thoughts and list of resources for additional information.

Examine the AAP Guidelines for screen time use. 

Examine the World Health Organization guidelines on screen time, sleep and physical activity for young children.

Current trends in mobile device use among youth are discussed.

Growth in technology and workplace are examined.