Navigating Screentime: Guiding parents in establishing and having effective conversations with their children

Often family conflicts center around “screentime.” Even before COVID-19, managing screentime was stressful for families. Following the pandemic, children are using screen based technologies for learning, entertainment, and socialization more than ever.

Overwhelmed parents, often struggling to manage their own use of tech, are often at a loss for how to set limits, monitor or discuss concerns with their children. Additionally, resisting the compelling attraction of games and apps may seem near impossible for children, whose brains are not yet fully developed. Adding to the challenges, the addition of remote learning has created new safety challenges around privacy and data, equity, and mis- and dis-information.

This beginner/intermediate webinar is aimed at all therapists who work with children and/or families. Emily will focus on three distinct “screentime” challenges and how clinicians can address them with clients: persuasive design, screen use at home, and screen use for school.

Content is designed to assist clinicians in supporting their clients with best practices around screen use and offer practical suggestions for how to prioritize important developmental skills such as executive functioning and critical thinking. Tools and resources will be provided that clinicians utilize themselves and share with parents.