Technology Overuse

Parent Coaching: Helping parents with parenting challenges by offering alternative perspectives about family situations, creating strategies to prevent youth high-risk behavior, and developing family dynamics that achieve balanced parenting goals.

Prevention Planning: Use this section to plan your prevention activities and prevention discussions regarding this topic.

• Digital Distraction Test

  Are you too digitally connected and need to plug back into to life? The Digital Distraction Test from the Center for Internet and Technology Addiction is a simple 12 item quiz to see if you are suffering from Digital Distraction.

• Online Safety Quiz

  Before kids spend time online, they should know how to keep themselves safe in a digital world. Take this quiz with your kids and use each question as a prompt to discuss what your family rules are.

• Internet Addiction Assessment (IAA)

  Are you concerned about your computer or smartphone use. Take this assessment to learn about the symptoms and find out how many Internet Addiction symptoms you may need to seek professional help with.

ACTIVITIES

• New Tech Guidelines Contract

  Spark a conversation about healthy digital habits with this new device contract by Media Smarts.

• Co-Viewing Media Tip Sheet

  Raise media-savvy kids by co-viewing and use this tip sheet from Media Smarts.

• Can you do a screen-free week?

  Tips and challenges.

LINKS

• How Much Screen Time is OK?

  Article by Common Sense that addresses this question including guidelines from the American Academcy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization. 

• reSTART

  The first inpatient program for Internet addiction in the United States.

• Effects of Digital Media on Executive Functioning Skills

  Children, Executive Functioning, and Digital Media: A Review, 2020

• Rules 'N Tools

  Safety rules and software tools to protect your children online from ProtectKids.com.

ORGANIZATIONS

• Common Sense Media

  Since 2003, Common Sense has been the leading source of entertainment and technology recommendations for families and schools. 

• Media Smarts

  Media Smarts is a Canadian not-for-profit charitable organization for digital and media literacy. 

• The Center for Internet Addiction

  The Center for Internet Addiction was founded by Dr. Kimberly Young in 1995. It provides treatment for Internet addiction using CBT-IA©, Young's specialized Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Internet addiction and is the first evidenced-based Digital Detox™ recovery program.

• The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction

  Dr. David Greenfield is the founder of The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction and Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine where teaches in the psychiatry residency program courses on Sexual Medicine and Internet Addiction. 

• Common Sense Media Research

  The mission of Common Sense Research is to provide parents, educators, health organizations, and policymakers with reliable, independent data on children's use of media and technology and the impact it has on their physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development.

READING & RESEARCH

• Excessive Internet Use Resources for Parents

  Resources to help parents respond to excessive internet use from Media Smarts.

• Is TikTok bad for you?

  Learn the psychology behind the app.

• Screen time

  How much is too much technology?

• Healthy screen time

  For 6-11-year-olds, help limit how much time they spend in front of a screen.

• Technology usage

  How to limit technology use in the household.

• Technology and sleep

  How to balance a healthy sleep schedule.

• Internet safety

  Tips for 9–11-year-olds that include online bullying prevention.

• Technology and the family

  How to make an effective plan.

• Screen time guidelines

  How to limit your kid’s time in front of technology.

Student Engagement: Engaging students in the learning process to increase understanding and motivattion to practice higher-level critical thinking skills about high-risk behavior.

Prevention Planning: Use this section to find information, activities, discussion and fact handouts, as well as access to research about this topic.

• Digital Distraction Test

  Are you too digitally connected and need to plug back into to life? The Digital Distraction Test from the Center for Internet and Technology Addiction is a simple 12 item quiz to see if you are suffering from Digital Distraction.

• Are you addicted?

  Take the test to see if you play too many video games.

• Online Safety Quiz

  Before kids spend time online, they should know how to keep themselves safe in a digital world. Take this quiz with your kids and use each question as a prompt to discuss what your family rules are.

• Internet Addiction Assessment (IAA)

  Are you concerned about your computer or smartphone use. Take this assessment to learn about the symptoms and find out how many Internet Addiction symptoms you may need to seek professional help with

ACTIVITIES

• Screentime and Wellbeing

  Infographic illustrating what the research says about screen time and well-being from TELUS Wise®.

• Host a National Day of Unplugging

  Become a member and use the DIY Toolkit to host a National Day of Unplugging Event.

ACTIVITIES

• This is your brain on video games

  Watch to see what video games do to your brain.

• Time management

  Tips to limit your technology usage.

LINKS

• How Much Screen Time is OK?

  Article by Common Sense that addresses this question including guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization. 

• Rules 'N Tools

  Safety rules and software tools to protect your children online from ProtectKids.com.