Wellbeing in a Digital World

As we head into the winter school holidays it is a good time to examine your family's use of digital technology in the home. In today's society, children are constantly exposed to digital technology and there is an overload of information about the benefits and negatives of screen time within the home.

Below is an article about creating healthy digital habits in kids and attached is the eSafety Commissioners Online Safety Guide. This book covers some of the key online safety issues for young people and includes a range of practical tips and advice on what to do if things go wrong. You can also find a list of important services that can offer extra support.

Creating Digital Habits in Kids by Martine Oglethorpe

Surveys have consistently shown that children have been exposed to rising amounts of screen time in recent years, as well as parents struggling to manage the moods and time demands of children and young people.

As kids spend increasing amounts of time tethered to a digital device, it makes sense that the time they are online is time well spent. As parents we’re often concerned about the connections children and young people are making and the subsequent impact on their wellbeing. We’re often concerned about the content they’re consuming, and how helpful, relevant, and safe it is for them. Rightfully, there’s concern that the time spent online, scrolling, searching, and swiping, may well be time better spent on other pursuits.

Obviously, these digital devices won’t be going anywhere fast. So, we need to look at how we remain in control of our screen use and ensure the time we’re investing online is adding something helpful, positive, and meaningful to our lives.

Here are a few tips to help you be more intentional with your scrolling. Being mindful of how time is spent on devices is certainly not just reserved for young people.

Encourage creation not just consumption

Here’s a simple question. Are you more of a consumer or creator when you’re online? When you spend your online time in creative mode such as making things, creating your own videos, editing photos, writing blogs, coding a video game, or composing a song you are getting something tangible in return for the time spent on a screen. You are achieving and creating something, rather than simply consuming the content made by others, which is generally far more satisfying as a user.

Look at who you are following

Consider the real purpose of the people on your feeds. Are you following celebrities you can never relate to, companies you would never buy from, or people who bring you down rather than teach or inspire you? Ideally, you’ll follow people and companies that you can connect with and add positively to your life.

So what about your child? If they have a passion for something, help them find suitable people to follow. For instance, if they love space, search for NASA and related accounts. If they love photography, help them find great photographers sharing their work online. When they’re following people who teach, inspire, and ignite their passions, they’re less likely to spend valuable time with energy zappers.

Do a digital declutter

We all have so many apps on our devices and many are just clutter that we used once and no longer visit or don’t add anything constructive to our day. Maybe you could try deleting all the apps on your phone and only put those back that you need to make your day easier, or that offer you something positive. This forces us to look at the real benefits, or not, of the apps and thus the time we are spending online. Could there be better games for your kids to play? Are there better videos for them to watch than the ones that the YouTube algorithm believes they want to see?

Role model good practices

Most kids learn much more from what they see and experience, rather than from what they are told. As a parent, be sure to be intentional with your screen time. Do you:

Follow people who support you, challenge you in helpful ways, or inspire and lift you up.
Interact in positive ways?
Give people your attention rather than scroll whilst others are talking to you.
Put your digital devices away in order to fit all the other important things into your day.

Setting your kids up with good online habits will help make these practices the norm. If you don’t want your children falling prey to harmful and unhelpful experiences online, you need to be sure that they are focusing on positive and helpful screentime pursuits.

Be intentional with your scrolling, and you’ll ensure you’re getting a much greater return on your online investment.

eSaftey Commissioners Safety Guide.pdf