Introducing Tech Slowly

“Slow and steady wins the race.”
— Aesop

 There’s No Hurry

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You have 18 years to prepare your child for independent and self-regulated use of tech.  Take a deep breath and enjoy the long scenic road, letting the line out slowly.

Your challenge is that tech is so sticky and easily becomes a slippery slope, eroding other uses of time.

What’s the solution?

  • Model and teach healthy tech boundaries to your child.

  • Prioritize unplugged childhood essentials (e.g., sleep, in-person relationships, unstructured play, time outdoors).

  • Consider delaying smartphones with apps and social media until high school (i.e., talk and text only through middle school).

  • Provide a long runway to guide your growing child towards self-directed healthy tech use, viewing their missteps as learning opportunities.

Your Approach to Tech Use Varies by Age

Inspired by:

  1. “Screen time recommendations by age group”, created by Meghan Owenz, Ph.D., psychologist and author of Spoiled Right. Provides explicit tips to support screen-free early years, followed by intentional use of media as children grow older.

  2. Family Digital Wellness Guide, created by the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital, directed by “mediatrician” Michael Rich, MD, MPH. Learn more about how best to holistically support your child’s stage of development, including how to optimize media use.

  3. A parent’s guide to young children in the digital age, created by Nancy Carlsson-Paige, Ed.D. Poignantly explains six core childhood development principles that are at risk of being displaced by screen time.

  4. Digital Media and Video Game Use Recommendations by Age, created by the Digital Media Treatment and Education Center. For those opting to use more tech, find explicit media use tips by age group to avoid tech overuse.

How To Introduce Tech Slowly

  • Giving a New Device

    5 steps to mindfully give a new digital device to your child.

    Learn More

  • Giving a Phone

    6 steps to thoughtfully give a phone to your child.

    Learn More

  • Adding Apps & Games

    A process for considering social media, a new game, or other apps.

    Learn More