Questions to prompt discussion with students:

‍Parents and Teachers: View the full VIP Facilitation Guide Here

Parents of Elementary School Students (dialogue starters):

Signs of Screen Time Problems

• What are some signs that your kid might be struggling with screen time?

Balancing Screen Time with Physical Activity

• How can you encourage your child to trade some of their online time for time spent instead engaging in healthy physical activities?

Quality Sleep

• How can you ensure your child’s phone or other devices don’t interfere with their sleep?

Parents of Middle School Students (dialogue starters):

Signs of Problematic Use

• What are some signs you’ve noticed in the way or amount your child uses screen time that seem unhealthy?

Reasons to Cut Back

• How could you open a conversation with your child about the negative impact of excessive screen time, especially when it’s passive?

Encouraging Active Screen Time

• What are some areas that interest your child where they might find a positive resource or tool online to increase active screen time?

Parents of High School Students (dialogue starters):

Knowing the Signs

• What are some signs your child might be undermining their mental/physical health and productivity by spending too much time online?

Encouraging Active Screen Time

• What are some ways to help your kid engage in more active (rather than passive) screen time activities, like those discussed in the video?

Learning to Disengage from Devices

• What are some ways you could encourage your student to be involved with more in-person activities that help them stay engaged instead of getting lost in their devices? 

More resources for parents, students, & educators

• ‍Balancing Video Game Screen time for Teens‍
• 50+ Tips to Limit Screen Time Without Conflict‍
• Using YouTube to Explore Colleges and Careers‍
• Positive Ways to Use ChatGPT for Students

Conclusion

Navigating screen time issues today is a huge challenge but finding balance is possible. There are definitely many negative consequences for excessive screen time, but in moderation, screen time offers many opportunities for teens to learn and develop their talents. By starting early, teens can set themselves up for a lifetime of balanced screen time use and reduce the potential negative impact.