Beyond Screen Time Rules: Creating Healthy Digital Boundaries
Technology moves fast, and as a caregiver, you want to stay on top of creating healthy digital boundaries for your girls. But where do you start, and what do you say? Is it enough to limit screen time or is there more to it? Here are some tips created in partnership with Google’s Be Internet Awesome program on how to start the conversation and help her practice good digital habits.
Create an open dialogue.
It might seem obvious, but the first step to teaching your girl intentional digital boundaries is starting the conversation. Set aside time to talk about staying safe online, what to share, and how to safeguard valuable information. Google has developed the Be Internet Awesome Family Guide to help you navigate the conversation and keep your family be safe and smart online. Discussing and agreeing on guidelines as a family is essential, as well as fostering open communication and understanding.
Decide when and how to use your screen time.
Create a family plan around when, where, and how to use devices. Establish clear rules about what is okay and what is not okay. The plan can include setting screen time limits and screen-free areas (like bedrooms or during meals) in your home. Your family may put their devices in a designated basket or bin during dinner. But note that not all screen time is the same. Decide when certain digital activities are allowed. For example, computer usage for homework assignments may be okay in the evening, but social media and texting might not be. You can also consider using parental control tools to enforce these rules and manage device usage. Work together to decide what works best for your family.
Manage your digital footprints.
Have a conversation about your family values and how that impacts what she should and should not share. Help her think about different types of information and what it means for posting and interacting with others. Some personal information, like anything that could identify her—including her full name, street address, and phone number—should never be shared online for safety reasons. Other information may be okay to share, but it's important to talk about the digital footprint sharing any information online can create. Help her make the right choices online when deciding if she should share photos, videos, and social media “likes” or comments. Remind her about the longer-term effects of sharing online—content is always online after it’s been shared. Talk with her about how it's okay to ask a parent or trusted adult for help.
Sign a family pledge.
After you’ve had conversations and have established a plan for your family, you can commit to your agreed-upon digital boundaries by having each family member sign a pledge. This written document is a promise that outlines your family’s plan and holds each other accountable.
Model good digital practices.
As a parent, how often you use your devices and what you do online can influence how much screen time your kids clock and how they behave online. They’re watching and learning from what you do when you use your phone or social media. If you use your phone at dinner, she’s likely to think that behavior is acceptable for everyone. If you are distracted by a device during a conversation, then she may think it’s fine to divide her attention as well. You have an influential role, and she’s more likely to learn healthy digital boundaries when you model good digital practices. Putting your phone down during conversations to avoid distractions and not using devices during meals can be great examples for your kids while showing them you are engaged and listening.
Talk to your girls about how they are feeling.
The digital world brings opportunities and challenges—for adults and kids. Social cues can be hard to read online, and constant connection can bring anxiety. Make sure to check in often and ask how she’s feeling. You can ask what types of activities she likes to do online or if she’s seen anything that made her uncomfortable. The internet can be an exciting and positive place, but it can also amplify negativity. Teaching her to interact online with kindness and empathy is essential for building healthy relationships and preventing bullying and other problems.
Having conversations about healthy digital boundaries and establishing family guidelines will help your girl make better decisions online. Most importantly, keep an open dialogue and check in on her often so you know she’s staying safe and being smart.
Explore more resources on this topic:
Be Internet Awesome: Google’s Be Internet Awesome empowers kids with tools and education to confidently and safely explore, grow, and play online.
Raise an Awesome Girl: Check out Raising Awesome Girls for tips and advice to support parents and caregivers to raise up the next generation of girls and young women with confidence.
Support Mental Wellness: Learn more about mental wellness with Girl Scouts’ Resilient. Ready. Strong. Challenge, Mental Wellness patch program, and other resources.
Become Digital Leaders: Girl Scouts can check out the Digital Leadership and Cybersecurity badges for each level. Adults can find ideas to support and inspire their Girl Scout’s interest in technology with the STEM Playbook.
Explore the Google family challenge, fun patch, and other articles.
Made possible by a generous grant from Google.
