A digital literacy lesson to watch with your child (and discuss later!): how do you know if technology is helping you or not?
"All or nothing" approaches are really difficult to implement, and they're not practical! If a child is grumpy or moody and we tell them they should not use a screen to cheer themselves up, that might not teach them *how* to determine if a screen or technology is the right tool in a given situation.
We all have difficult moments, and sometimes, we NEED an easy, quick distraction or boost to get through it. Maybe we're suddenly hangry on our commute and the best option is a candy bar we stashed in the glove box. Maybe our kid is melting down at the doctor's office and a few minutes playing on a phone will get us through it. Distraction is not a "bad" use of a tool like a screen, but it should be an *intentional* one, and it should HELP. If it doesn't help, maybe it's not the right tool.
So when we're turning toward technology (or any "low hanging fruit" like TV, caffeine, takeout, even a reaction like yelling) we can ask ourselves:
What am I feeling? Can I name it? If not, can I feel it? Describe it? Draw it?
What do I *need*? Food? A break? Comfort? Safety? A temporary escape?
Is this tool I'm using right now giving me what I need? If I need a temporary escape because I got bad news at work and I can't deal with it at the moment, then a screen or a podcast or a latte might be the perfect tools.
If I feel distracted and antsy and need to move, a latte or a screen aren't giving me what I need.
If a child (or your inner child) are resistant to trying a different tool besides a screen, try another trick I love: pair what you want with what you need. Keep the podcast, pair it with movement. Keep the latte, pair it with some deep breaths. Keep the TV show, pair it with some yoga poses.
Once you (or your child) are more regulated, check in: what worked? What didn't? What tool was more/less effective? What will you try next time?
This way we are building in introspection, reflection, AND regulation skills.
