Digital Family

You announce: “We’re going to have better screen rules.” Then the questions start. Does homework on the laptop count? Can I text Grandma during screen-free time? What about music? Why can Dad check his phone at dinner? Can I download a free game? What happens on vacation? A family media plan becomes hard to follow…

It is 6:27 p.m. You say: “Screen time is over. Dinner’s almost ready.” Your child answers: “Five more minutes.” You say no. “But I’m almost done.” Another no. “You always make me stop!” Now you are arguing about five minutes, yesterday’s five minutes, whether homework counts, what happened at a friend’s house, and why adults…