Little Ones Online

Our little ones are online now—for school, learning, play dates, staying in contact with family, and everything else in between. Even our Pre-k children are becoming active digital users. It’s never too early to start talking about online safety, online kindness, appropriate use of technology (including limits on time) and online e-learner engagement.

The World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics have published information on appropriate screen time for children, but this was prior to the pandemic. In times such as these, it may be a good idea to outline the reasons for use with your family. You should also create a screen time schedule accounting for school/e-learning, entertainment, and social support time, such as contact with family and peers via screen-based calls.

During the week, the typical recommendation is up to one hour of screen time. However, this doesn’t account for online school. As much as you can, establish a balance between what is needed for school and what is needed for social engagement/entertainment during the week. Breaking up screen time may be another option, while keeping in mind that it’s important to limit screen time near bedtimes.

Identify the rules of behavior while online. Just as we do for in-person contact, remind your kids about the rules for kindness, sharing, waiting your turn, following classroom rules (e.g., don’t use the chat while the teacher is talking), and making sure they don’t get distracted by other online activities while in school.

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