Blog | Page 7 of 14 | Screen Sanity

Blog

Welcome to the Screen Sanity blog! Here you'll find the latest tips and trends related to screentime, smartphones, social media and video games, as well as real-life stories from Screen Sanity families.

That is privilege

With near-constant exposure to news and social media amidst this injustice, more kids are watching graphic videos of tragic violence and reading hateful comments on social media. Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion of the Wright Institute, recently shared thoughts on how parents can help kids process and respond to what they are seeing.

Zoom Mad Lib

Looking for a fun activity to do tonight? Download and print this Zoom Mad Lib to do with your family…or use it to help make the most of your next Zoom playdate—have your child ask a friend for the words and then read it back…rolling in laughter.

Driver’s Ed Approach to Messenger Kids

START recently partnered with the Wall Street Journal to share thoughts about a hot app for kids: Facebook’s Messenger Kids, an introductory social media app designed for kids age 6-12. If you decide to take the plunge, it’s likely your child’s first foray into social media and it’s important to equip them for it and to be attentive to potential unexpected side effects.

Emoji 101

For your teen or tween, more time at home likely means more incoming texts…some of which might be layered with hidden meanings. Need a decoder? We gotcha covered! This FREE DOWNLOAD gives you the scoop on the latest trends in teen text-slang.

Quarantine Mad Lib

Looking for a fun activity to do to help your family unplug at dinner? Or a tool to help your kids have a successful Zoom play date? Print out and complete this “quarantine mad lib” with your family. We hope it leads to conversations and connections to help your family weather this storm.

Keeping Calm When Screenxiety Kicks On

Even before the world of Zoom calls, distance learning assignments, and social media “family challenges”…keeping tabs on our children’s screentime was enough to cause any calm parent a decent amount of anxiety. That’s why we were thrilled when our friend Caroline Hesdall, Ph.D., liscenced psychologist, let us pick her brain about ways we can calm the anxiety we feel over our kids’ screen habits.

Social Distancing: Our Kids’ Reality

In a world where we are physically distanced from each other, our challenge is to maximize the gift of screens, but minimize the isolation we are feeling. Ironically, for our teens, this challenge isn’t necessarily a new thing. Join us for a peek our kids’ world. We are here to help you make a plan to help them stay healthy.

Cast a Vision

Make a list of what core values will guide this season—or maybe a rally cry like, “Just keep Swimming” from Finding Dory or “Do the Next Right Thing” from Frozen 2. Ask your kids to join you, co-creating a vision for how you want your family to live this season! Then…hang them up! Whether it is just a handwritten post-it on the fridge or a Pinterest-inspired art print doesn’t matter, but hang your vision in your home as a visual reminder of what your family is striving for.