Too much screen time? | Westbourne House School

From what I can gather from a great many parents, the amount of time your children are spending online is the elephant in the room for many of us. If allowed, I don’t think it would be too much of a bold statement to say that many of our children (and us!) would spend too much time in front of a screen, large or small.

The dangers of technology are many and varied, including exposure to inappropriate content, bullying from other kids and addiction. In fact many of those in the know - technology chief executives (Steve Jobs perhaps most famously) - strictly limit their children’s screen time.

However the issue is, like many things nowadays, not that straightforward. Screen time doesn’t just mean mindless gaming or watching unsuitable YouTube clips; our children may be engaged with a creative game or one that requires significant problem solving, watching a clip about their favourite pastime or simply reading about what is going on in the world. Indeed, rather than watching a video, they may be creating and editing one, likewise with video games.

At Westbourne House School, we believe in the importance of childhood, while ensuring we prepare them for the future. Children should develop at an age-appropriate pace, so we educate them about elements of technology which might result in them growing up too quickly. All staff have recently been trained on e-safety. We aim to create safe, responsible and respectful digital citizens. The children use technology to create, innovate and express themselves.

So what should parents be thinking about? Unquestionably in my view, we need to set an example, and agree some basic rules as to how family life runs alongside our mobile devices. Of course there are going to be busy times when we have to conduct business, answer emails, buy something online or even browse the news, but a few basic rules are likely to go a long way.

A great deal has been written about the subject, although I wanted to point to one or two good sources of material that you might find of interest:

Read our e-safety information and come to our online safety event next term, which will be run by Alan Earl, a serving policemen who specialises in online safety.
Watch this video published by the Headmasters’ Conference for Senior Schools (HMC), which highlights the issue and provides one or two solutions.
Consider the guidelines recently put in place by a number of senior boarding schools with regard to devices: no devices at mealtimes, no devices during prep and no devices after a certain time in the evening. I also think stopping and looking up when asked a question is fundamental.
Set up Internet filters to restrict certain websites. Changing settings in your router or with your Internet service provider can make the Internet a great deal safer and pleasant than it might otherwise be. Check out Internetmatters.org, which you should find helpful in setting parental controls on your devices.
Look for opportunities to use technology with your children as the powerful and creative tool that it is, and not the addictive timewaster that it can be. We’ve come up with a short list of 11 educational Apps we recommend at the end of this article, and you can go to Common Sense Media to read expert opinions about any other Apps your children may request.

One thing is for sure - no two families will be the same in this regard, but I sincerely believe that all families should consider the impact of technology on the whole family in this digital age, and set some boundaries as to what is acceptable for them.

Recommended Apps

The links below go to the website of the App publisher. In many cases, the publisher has a range of Apps that we recommend, often for different age groups. On their website you may read about the Apps to decide if you think they are right for your child. To download them, you just need to search for them on the Apple App Store or Google Play. Most of the Apps are available on both platforms.