Kaarin Anderson Ryan, PhD One last tip for parents when it comes to managing screen time: Be a good role model. If your kids see you on your devices all the time, you are teaching them that this is acceptable and valued behavior. As you encourage and set up structure
Kaarin Anderson Ryan, PhD 6.1.23 One of the side effects of the predominance of screens in our lives is that the time spent on screens intrudes on quality time with family. Phones are always present in many homes – across activities and situations. To make sure your family is not
Kaarin Anderson Ryan, PhD 5.17.23 The internet is an incredibly useful but also potentially dangerous place to spend time. To help protect yourself, only go to reputable sites and sources, and never give away your personal information without making sure the site is legitimate. For kids and teens, monitor the
Kaarin Anderson Ryan, PhD 5.5.23 Both adults and children are known to spend too much time gaming. Adults, if you are not into console-based games, consider other device games that can be addicting. If you start playing any game on your phone, look at the time you start and the
Kaarin Anderson Ryan, PhD 4.27.23 Social Media. This is one of the most difficult screen time issues to tackle, but a few simple strategies can make a big difference. For yourself: Limit your time on social media, set timers if needed. Turn off the notifications, allowing yourself to check social
Kaarin Anderson Ryan, PhD 4.19.23 Research has shown that our cognitive capacity can be affected by even the presence of phones and devices. To get the most concentration on something you are working on, consider putting your phone away, or at the very least using the focus features to reduce
Kaarin Anderson Ryan, PhD 4.12.23 A second general problem with using screens and devices too much is that there can be a loss of rich social interaction. By limiting our social interaction by relying social media and texting, along with giving so much of our time to screens, the amount
Kaarin Anderson Ryan, PhD 4.6.23 Physical problems associated with screen time include neck, shoulder and back issues, lack of activity and movement, Computer Vision Syndrome (dry eyes, eye strain), and sleep issues associated with blue light from screens. To help reduce risks, try these simple adjustments:
Kaarin Anderson Ryan 3.20.23 It seems like many people have been lamenting the rise in dependence and time spent on screens, both for adults and for kids. However, we all have a hard time keeping it limited. In this post and in the upcoming series of articles, I will highlight
Kaarin Anderson Ryan, PhD With Christmas right around the corner, it is tempting sometimes to respond to negative behaviors by threatening to cancel presents, or to remind that Santa is watching – so kids better behave. While these types of threats can help with immediate reductions in behavior problems, remember
Kaarin Anderson Ryan, PhD When you think about building positive behaviors, it is important to have some specifics in mind. What behaviors would you like to see more often? Pick a couple behaviors, such as using a nice tone of voice, being helpful, or completing tasks, and make sure to
Kaarin Anderson Ryan, PhD It is Thanksgiving week – this is a time when many of us take a moment to think about gratitude and all the things we have to be thankful for in our lives. As you consider gratitude this week, look at your kids and pay special