Time online
Help your child achieve a healthy balance in their online and offline activities.
How much is too much?
There is no magic figure. The right amount of screen time can depend on a range of factors like your child’s age and maturity, the kind of content they are consuming, their learning needs and your family routine. It can be easy to focus only on the clock, but the quality and nature of what they are doing online, and your involvement, are just as important.
Signs to watch for
- less interest in social activities like meeting friends or playing sport
- not doing so well at school
- tiredness, sleep disturbance, headaches, eye strain
- changes in eating patterns
- reduced personal hygiene
- obsession with particular websites or games
- extreme anger when being asked to take a break from online activity
- appearing anxious or irritable when away from the computer
- becoming withdrawn from friends and family
Reducing your own screen time sets a positive example.
Reducing your own screen time sets a positive example.
Help your child manage their online time
- Stay engaged and encourage balance — keep an eye on the games, apps and devices your child uses by sharing screen time with them. Help them stay aware of their important offline activities, like hobbies and sports.
- Create a plan — involve your child in creating a family plan that balances time spent sitting in front of screens,with a variety of offline activities.
- Use the available technologies — parental controls and tools to monitor online time allow you to measure and set time limits on device use or internet access. But be honest and open with your children about why you want to use these technologies.
Time online
Help your child achieve a healthy balance in their online and offline activities.
How much is too much?
There is no magic figure. The right amount of screen time can depend on a range of factors like your child’s age and maturity, the kind of content they are consuming, their learning needs and your family routine. It can be easy to focus only on the clock, but the quality and nature of what they are doing online, and your involvement, are just as important.
Signs to watch for
- less interest in social activities like meeting friends or playing sport
- not doing so well at school
- tiredness, sleep disturbance, headaches, eye strain
- changes in eating patterns
- reduced personal hygiene
- obsession with particular websites or games
- extreme anger when being asked to take a break from online activity
- appearing anxious or irritable when away from the computer
- becoming withdrawn from friends and family
Reducing your own screen time sets a positive example.
Reducing your own screen time sets a positive example.
Help your child manage their online time
- Stay engaged and encourage balance — keep an eye on the games, apps and devices your child uses by sharing screen time with them. Help them stay aware of their important offline activities, like hobbies and sports.
- Create a plan — involve your child in creating a family plan that balances time spent sitting in front of screens,with a variety of offline activities.
- Use the available technologies — parental controls and tools to monitor online time allow you to measure and set time limits on device use or internet access. But be honest and open with your children about why you want to use these technologies.
This material has been adapted with permission from the Australian Government eSafety Commissioner. Permission to adapt content does not constitute endorsement of material by the eSafety Commissioner.
