Screen Time Helpful Tips & Resources
Finding Alternative Activities for Students
Educating students on alternatives to watching television and setting time limits on internet use is important for their physical and emotional development. The following tips can help kids think critically about their multi-media habits.
Five Activities to Help Students “Unplug”
- Ask students to keep a diary of the amount of television they watch for one week.
- Facilitate a discussion with your students about TV rules and internet time limits in their house.
- Ask your students to complete a physical activity at home with a family member each week.
- Have your students create a list of ideas of what they could do instead of watching TV, playing video games, or using the internet.
- Create a challenge for your students to avoid screen time for an extended period of time. For example, ask them to participate in National Screen-Free Week, usually the first week in May. Students agree to spend seven days “unplugged” from television and media for entertainment and find other ways to amuse themselves and spend quality time with friends and family.
(Source: Physical Activity Foundation)
Teaching Online Safety
When kids socialize online, they should understand how to make good choices and protect themselves. The following discussion questions and activities will encourage your students to think critically about online safety and cyberbullying.
Ask your students:
- What types of activities do you engage in on the internet?
- Protecting yourself online is all about keeping certain things private. What are some things you shouldn’t reveal online?
- If you go online, sometimes you’re asked to create a screen name. Talk about some of the words and numbers people use a lot. Do some of these give away too much information?
- If someone says something online that makes you feel upset or uncomfortable, what should you do? What should you do if someone asks to meet you in person?
- When should you talk to an adult?
