Technology and Parenting: A Path to Digital Wellness
In today’s modern world, technology offers connection, education, and convenience—and it’s also designed to captivate us, often at the expense of our focus, emotional well-being, and relationships. At iParent101, we understand the challenges parents face in helping kids navigate this landscape. Dr. Adam Pletter’s Digital Wellness Program is here to empower families with practical strategies for balance.
Key takeaways from our recent webinars:
Behavioral and Mental Health
Digital stimulation disrupts our ability to prioritize, regulate emotions, and maintain focus. Notifications and alerts trigger dopamine release, creating urgency and FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).
This cycle can interfere with sleep, studying, and self-care.
How to Break the Cycle:
• Try engaging, playful activities like bio-breaks that stimulate all five senses—For children of all ages—lean on short, novel tasks that activate different parts of our brains. Even weird challenges, like a “Sniff-Hunt” —see how many different scents you can identify around the house in two minutes (e.g., spices, tea bags, dog beds, litterbox, etc). This also works for high schoolers who are prepping for standardized tests alongside their intense academics. Intentionally engaging in weird, random tasks shifts attention and fosters self-awareness.
• Spend uninterrupted time outdoors or with loved ones, putting phones away completely.
• Turn off nonessential notifications to reduce distractions.
Best Practices for Limiting Tech
Technology can bring connection and interfere with daily life if left unchecked. Instead of making tech a battleground, work with your kids toward reasonable shared goals:
• Delay tech access when appropriate, focusing on discussion and collaboration.
• Create boundaries that balance tech use with productive, family-centered time
. • Focus on increasing digital citizenship and competency with healthy discovery and practice of digital skills.
Fostering a Healthy Relationship with Technology
As technology evolves, so must our relationship with it. Maintaining balance requires flexibility and ongoing adjustment.
• Establish consistent rules and expectations, and stay adaptable.
• Teach children how to adapt to new tools and environments responsibly.
• Model the behavior you want to see—your actions are the most powerful lessons.
Ready to Parent Smarter, Not Harder? (i.e., proactive vs. reactive)
Dr. Adam Pletter’s consultations and engaging presentations provide actionable tools to help families and corporate employees thrive in the modern world. Download the Digital Wellness Tips & Takeaways PDF for more strategies, and visit iParent101.com to explore resources that can transform our relationship with technology. Caregivers are on the same team as their children with the mutual goal of raising healthy future adults!
Take the first step toward a healthier digital balance.
Your kids are watching—be the role model they need.
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