11/07/2024
Did you know digital addiction can impact the brain just as powerfully as substance addiction?
Excessive screen time can significantly affect your child’s well-being, leading them to choose screens over healthy activities like:
* Playing outside and staying active
* Building friendships and developing social skills
* Spending quality time with family
* Taking on responsibilities and learning life skills
* Exploring hobbies and discovering new talents
Digital addiction doesn’t just distract—it can hinder critical skills like active listening, reading body language, and maintaining eye contact. The more time spent on screens, the harder it becomes for us to connect deeply, feel empathy, and truly understand others. Over time, this can isolate us, making real-world relationships feel less important than those on social media.
As a parent, there are steps you can take to foster real connection at home:
1. Set clear boundaries around technology—what we call “tech fences.”
2. Create a tech basket where all devices go during family time.
3. Practice active listening to make kids feel heard and valued.
4. Engage in screen-free activities together to build stronger bonds.
Explore these and more tips on creating a tech-healthy environment at Shepherd's Hill Academy, visit our website.
For further reading, check out our CEO, Allison Wallace, in her interview on raising connected, resilient kids: Allison Wallace on How to Raise Children Who Feel Loved and Connected
