{"id":11662,"date":"2021-07-21T15:07:37","date_gmt":"2021-07-21T14:07:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/screentimelabs.com\/?p=11662"},"modified":"2022-03-17T01:26:15","modified_gmt":"2022-03-17T01:26:15","slug":"how-to-be-a-positive-technology-use-role-model-for-your-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/screentimelabs.com\/blog\/how-to-be-a-positive-technology-use-role-model-for-your-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Be a Positive Technology Use Role Model for Your Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Overview:<\/strong> Kids learn as much from what parents do as what parents say. If you leave your phone aside during family time, limit time spent on certain apps like social media, and focus on the practical uses of your screens, children will pick up those habits as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modeling Behavior<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every parent quickly learns that their kids pick up what they do and say like sponges. Researchers call this “observational learning,”<\/a> which is how kids can pick up the vocabulary, mannerisms, and strategies of adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This isn’t a one-to-one type of learning. Kids make their own decisions and learn from experience just like everyone else, much to the frustration of some parents<\/a>. Yet it can be an important factor for parents to keep in mind and a powerful tool for teaching certain positive habits around screens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walking The Walk<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The key for parents is to walk the walk when it comes to screen time. This doesn’t mean you should live a rigorously screen-free life, but it does mean that when you talk about tech use as a family, you have to remember it’s a two-way street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start with a self-assessment of your screen use. Ask yourself the following questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n